The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of new tests for the diagnosis of coronavirus, developed by Rutgers University, CNBC reported.

The new test diagnoses COVID-19 by saliva, and not by a smear from the nose or throat. According to experts, thanks to this test, the number of studies on coronavirus in the US can be increased to 10,000 per day.

“It’s a game-changer on three levels,” said Rutgers professor Andrew Brooks, chief operating officer and director of technology development at RUCDR.

According to Brooks, the test will facilitate a global shortage of swabs and other related equipment needed for existing coronavirus tests. It will reduce the need for a “tremendous amount” of personal protective equipment for sample collectors as well, and reduce their risk of getting close to a patient and possibly becoming infected, during collection. He noted that the test will increase the amount of biological material that can be collected and tested, which will increase accuracy rates, he said.

“We’re returning results in from 24 to 48 hours” after they arrive in a lab, he noted.

“In our lab,” Brooks said, “we have the capacity of 10,000 [test] reactions a day.”