Spring 2021 Testing

Before your test: Though it is a saliva-based test, you will not be “spitting” into a tube. Think of it more like dribbling or drooling. What the lab needs in order to successfully run your test is the liquid portion of your saliva. Your saliva must be clear and not discolored, free of food and mucus, and cannot contain residues such as those from brushing your teeth or smoking.

To ensure your saliva sample is not rejected, in the hour before your test:

• Do not drink (including water)
• Do not eat
• Do not brush or floss your teeth, or use mouthwash
• Do not chew gum or smoke

You may also want to rinse your mouth with water to remove any discoloration (such as from coffee) or small pieces of food. Be sure to do this at least one hour before your test.

The test requires between 1 and 1.5 milliliters of the liquid part of your saliva (no bubbles). Be careful not to submit too much saliva or your test may come back rejected.

Tips for producing enough drool:

• Hydrate earlier in the day by drinking plenty of water up until one hour before your test.
• Pool your drool underneath your tongue as you walk or drive to your test site.
• Think about foods you really like to eat. Think about sour foods like lemons.
• Slide the tip of your tongue along your gums behind your teeth to stimulate your salivary glands.

At your test

1. You will be greeted at your test site and asked to show your app. The staff member will scan your Safer Badgers QR code. They will ask you whether you have had anything to eat or drink; brushed your teeth, used floss or mouthwash; chewed gum or smoked in the previous hour.
2. The staff member will ask you to provide your month and date of birth to write it on your sample tube.
3. You will be asked to sanitize your hands to reduce the chances you contaminate your sample.
4. The staff member will hand you your sample tube and a small funnel and guide you to an individual saliva collection area.
5. You should keep your face covering on until you are ready to begin adding your saliva to the tube. Pool your drool while you prepare.
6. Before you begin to drool into the sample tube, unscrew the cap and secure the funnel to the top of the tube. Hold onto the cap.
7. With the funnel near your mouth, drool into the tube. Try to produce as much liquid as you can. You will likely need to drool into the tube several times as you produce enough saliva. You should replace your face covering in between.
8. Any bubbles in your saliva will collect in the funnel. Do not push the bubbles down.
9. You will need to produce at least 1 milliliter of drool, but no more than 1.5 milliliters. The tube is marked. If you submit too much drool, let a member of the test site staff know. You may need to provide a new saliva sample.
10. Once you have produced enough saliva, ask a member of the test site staff to check your sample to ensure it is not discolored and does not contain pieces of food or other contaminants. Otherwise, your test may come back invalid.
11. Once the test site staff member approves your sample, you will be asked to go to the check-out table to submit it. The staff member will scan your Safer Badgers QR code. They will also scan the bar code on the tube containing your saliva sample.
12. The test site staff member will provide instructions for leaving your sample. You will also be asked to use hand sanitizer again to ensure appropriate COVID-19 hand hygiene.
13. Within 24 hours your test results should be available in the Safer Badgers app or through your MyUHS account.