A new programme to assess the feasibility of at-home saliva testing for COVID-19 has been launched in Southampton and some of you will shortly be invited to participate.
Originated by a group of colleagues from across our University and commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care, this programme is the result of many weeks of collaboration with teams from University Hospital Southampton and Southampton City Council.
The programme will assess the feasibility of widespread weekly testing and ultimately help us return to our daily lives as safely as possible.
Two cohorts from across the University will be invited to participate in this voluntary programme:
1) Students who are still living in Halls of Residences in Southampton week beginning Monday 20 July will be tested once
2) Staff and members of their households who have an SO14-19 postcode and live within the city boundary (i.e. pay Southampton City Council Tax) will be tested once a week for two weeks
The test involves producing a saliva sample at home, which is sent for laboratory testing. Participants will receive a positive or negative result from the NHS by text message.
If you are being invited to participate, you will receive an email shortly with a link to register for the programme and further instructions. Please remember to check your spam folder, and do not share the link with anyone else.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mark E. Smith, says:
“I would really like to thank all colleagues who have worked tirelessly to get this project off the ground and who will be carefully monitoring results over the next month. I know it has been a truly collaborative effort working with many local partners. If you receive an invitation, please do consider taking part.”
You can find out more about the programme at: www.southampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid19/testing.aspx
