Red Cross’ COVID-19 saliva testing starts February
PANGASINANSES can begin to avail of the COVID-19 test using saliva, instead of a swab in February to be administered by the Philippine Red Cross-Pangasinan chapter.
Krismar Glen Brillantes, PRC-Pangasinan head, said the PRC head office is currently conducting training and orientation for specimen collector of the chapter’s personnel.
“The trained collectors will begin their work on the first week of February”, said Brillantes in an interview.
Brillantes, however, clarified that the use of saliva specimen collection also uses the Reverse Transcript–Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test, just like the nose swab.
“They are both RT-PCR, but differs in collection of specimens,” Brillantes said.
Only 1 to 2 mL of saliva is needed and it will be collected with use of a straw to transport the specimen from the mouth to the container and analysis of which will only take 3-4 hours unlike the analysis of the nose swab which takes 2-3 days waiting period.
Brillantes added that there is no saliva testing laboratory in the province and the closest PRC saliva testing laboratory is located in Clark, Pampanga.
Despite its almost on-par efficiency with the RT-PCR swab test, the saliva test is also cheaper at P2k compared to swab’s P3,800. (Ahikam Pasion)
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