SHIELD T3
Driven by Innovation and Mission
Validation:
- The University of Illinois System received emergency use authorization (EUA #: EUA202555) on February 24th, 2021, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for covidSHIELD, the innovative saliva-based COVID-19 test that was used on the U of I campuses to hold the virus in check by utilizing widespread testing with rapid results. Under FDA guidelines, the EUA allows the U of I System to broadly expand its covidSHIELD testing beyond its universities in all of the Shield T3 laboratories across the country.
We aim to:
- Provide a quality test and testing system to curb the spread of the pandemic
- Offer a solution that is affordable enough to use at scale and safely reopen for private and public good
Background
We believe saliva to be the best medium to detect the virus. Our test bypasses the RNA-isolation step allowing for both lower costs and more rapid results without sacrificing accuracy. The saliva test from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been approved by the UIUC’s Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified lab director.
Results
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has been administering this COVID-19 test on all students, faculty and staff since the spring of 2020, with outstanding results.
