However, standard swab tests have proved unreliable in severe cases, says Kumar, possibly because the viral infection is deep in the lungs rather than in the throat.
Only one false positive case was recorded with the oral gum swab test, proving 99.7% specificity.
The swab test, which involves taking a mucus sample from the nasal cavity, can distinguish between swine flu (H1N1), A and B strains of the virus.
NEW DELHI: a simple 20-minute gum swab test could soon tell you whether you are HIV positive or not.
