COVID-19 testing based on saliva can be used for several purposes, including for travel, the Philippine Red Cross said on January 26 as it noted that the process is "almost equally accurate" as the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test, which is considered as the "gold standard" when it comes to COVID-19 testing.
A cheaper and more comfortable alternative, COVID-19 saliva tests can be used as a substitute for other virus tests in airports as allowed by the Department of Health, according to Philippine Red Cross president, Senator Richard Gordon.
"Pinayagan na ng DOH [Department of Health] 'yan, so payag na lahat diyan, pati sa airport payag na lahat diyan," Gordon said in an interview with ANC, emphasizing that the test would still use the PCR technique. Do note that according to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC)'s booking site, the saliva test may not be used for outgoing international passengers per IATF guidelines.
Gordon said the saliva test could be used by aspiring lawyers taking the Bar exams this year, students who might soon return to face-to-face classes, as well as uniformed personnel.
"It's almost equally accurate as the gold standard (RT-PCR)," Gordon said. They aim to roll out the test nationwide by February.
Since it requires just saliva, the form of testing eliminates the discomfort of having a long cotton swab inserted into a person's throat or nostrils which happens in RT-PCR testing. A saliva specimen is stable at room temperature and does not require cold chain transport, cutting logistics costs. Gordon also added that with saliva tests, there'll be no PPEs, "wala ka nang babayaran na magsa-swab," which further lowers the cost. It's currently priced at P2,000.
Gordon said that even if the country starts its mass COVID-19 vaccination program, testing should remain as a pillar in pandemic response.
"You cannot do away with testing; I will emphasize that a million times. Testing is the key—knowing that your enemy is out there and discovering it, that is the key. Even if you have the vaccine applied to you, that will only prevent you from having a very, very bad case of the infection but you can still infect somebody with it," he said.
To book an appointment for the saliva test, visit Philippine Red Cross' booking site.
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Source: Spot PH
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