Coping with Covid: Kansas City to receive one of four Missouri saliva-based rapid test machines

By Madison Parry

Development in COVID-19 testing technology has allowed Missouri to purchase four machines capable of detecting COVID-19 using a saliva-based test developed by Washington University in St. Louis, Kansas City just one region of the state to receive a machine.

Continued advancements in COVID-19 testing technology have brought four saliva-based rapid test machines to Missouri.

The state purchased the machines which will be spread out to different regions of Missouri including Kansas City, and are capable of detecting COVID-19 using a saliva-based test developed by Washington University in St. Louis.

“This test is a major development in COVID-19 testing technology that will help us expand laboratory capacity and testing volumes even more,” Parson said during a Facebook live briefing on Wednesday from the governor’s mansion.

The other three machines purchased will be distributed to southwest, southeast and central Missouri.

Parson also confirmed during the briefing that Missouri will receive 120,000 rapid testing kits from the federal government by the end of this week. By the end of the year, the state expects to receive more than 2 million.