Everett Clinic saline study could expand coronavirus testing

Polyester swabs and saltwater are reliable substitutes for harder-to-find materials, the study found.

EVERETT — For weeks, public health experts have expressed frustration over a shortage of both swabs for coronavirus tests and the liquid in which the swabs are stored for transport.

Help may be on the way, in the form of saltwater.

A recently released Everett Clinic study tested 50 people and found widely available polyester swabs and saline solution are just as reliable as the current testing materials that are in short supply.

“This study further refines … research showing how a simple, patient-administered test can effectively and efficiently test for COVID-19 infections,” Dr. Yuan-Po Tu, who led the study, said in a news release.

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration updated its testing guidelines to allow the new testing materials. The study’s findings could be a positive step toward more widespread testing, which Gov. Jay Inslee has said will be necessary for social distancing measures to be relaxed.

“This will help us maximize our supplies so as we expand testing capacity, we are not limited in being able to take samples,” Everett Clinic spokesman Sam Templeton said in an email.

This is the second coronavirus study at the Everett Clinic to change federal rules for testing.

In March, Dr. Tu also found a testing method that lets patients swab themselves was just as accurate as clinician-administered tests.

Meanwhile, 4,000 at-home testing kits were shipped in the last month throughout King County as part of a separate study.

The Greater Seattle Coronavirus Assessment Network sent swab kits for people to self-administer and then send back to testing labs. The goal was to gauge the level of infection in the county over an 18-day period, which started March 23.

More tests are being sent out to continue the study. You must be a King County resident to qualify.

To date, the FDA hasn’t approved any form of at-home COVID-19 testing.

But King County’s self-swab study could be another step toward relaxing social distancing, King County Health Officer Dr. Jeff Duchin said.

“We think this is a really great proof of concept that home testing can work,” he said.

Duchin also said the Everett Clinic study was “very encouraging.”

“Right now, we continue to face shortages of testing materials and reagents,” he said. “Everything that comes on now as a new innovation — that’s appropriately validated and compared as close as we can to a gold standard — would be welcome.”

Joey Thompson: 425-339-3449; jthompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @byjoeythompson.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Lynnwood
Lynnwood police: 1 suspect in custody, 1 at large after attempted carjacking

Beverly Elementary School went into a precautionary lockdown Thursday afternoon. Numerous officers continue to search for the second suspect.

Candidates announce campaigns for Everett city council seat

Ryan Crowther, founder of the Everett Music Initiative, will challenge incumbent Paula Rhyne for the District 2 seat.

Lynnwood City Council Vice President Julieta Crosby speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood picks top eight candidates to replace former council VP

The City Council will make its final decision Feb. 20 after interview process.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.