Save those funnels! As COVID population testing intensifies, testing sites are no longer distributing full saliva test kits. The students think this is a downside, but mostly they understand the change. Jason Chua has more.

Save those funnels indeed. USC students dropping their saliva tests this week found they were getting a little less than they were used to.

Pop testing sites no longer distribute saliva collection kits to students who drop in their samples. Instead, they only get a new test tube, with no funnel, straw, and bag.

We met a few students at the recently added USC Bookstore drop-off point.

JADE ZHU: I live in the village, so I think it’s the closest to me.

It’s Jade Zhu, a freshman in business administration majoring in art history from Philadelphia. She just dropped off her sample.

ZHU: I don’t think they are handing out more funnels, so I will continue to use this one from now on.

At the start of the semester, saliva testing was the only choice for pop testing. Now swab testing is not only available, but encouraged. Swab test participants entered daily designs for bookstore gift cards.

Some students, like Natalia Osuna, like the swab test, citing its convenience and speed.

OSUNA: I would say I prefer the swab test because it’s just a lot faster to do. You can do it in a minute or two. It is also much easier to do that than to spend like I do not know how much time spitting and a little tube.

While the change is not practical, some students, like Huamin Li, recognize the potential benefits of not providing complete kits.

LI: I don’t think it’s a good decision for a student to reuse it, but I would say it’s good for the environment.

So remember, for your next pop test, consider a swab test or remember not to throw away and keep that funnel.

For Annenberg Media, I’m Jason Chua. Bryan Sarabia contributed to this report.