Saliva-based COVID-19 tests now offered at UG Health Department Saliva-based COVID-19 tests are now offered at the Unified Government Health Department testing facility in the former Kmart building at 7836 State Ave., Kansas City, Kansas. According to UG officials, the saliva test is more comfortable and convenient for patients than the nasal swab test. “The saliva test is a PCR test, just like the nasopharyngeal tests we have been using,” said Juliann Van Liew, director of the Health Department. “PCR tests are considered the ‘gold standard’ of COVID-19 tests, due to their accuracy. The results of the saliva tests have been shown to be just as accurate as the nasopharyngeal tests. The biggest difference is that these saliva tests are more comfortable for the patient – instead of requiring a swab at the back of the nasal cavity, these tests just require a saliva sample, which patients can easily collect themselves, in most cases. And if patients prefer, they can simply register their test kit at our facility and then do their saliva sample at home.”