The validation result on saliva testing for Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is expected to be released at the soonest time possible.
According to Testing Czar Secretary Vince Dizon, in accordance with the order of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the regulatory agencies under the Department of Health (DOH) are speeding up the process of their evaluation of the saliva test.
Aside from that, Sec. Dizon also announced that the DOH has approved the guidelines for pooled testing.
“Ito po ay naaprubahan na ng ating DOH at ngayon siya ay pools of 5. Limang specimen kada test so, makakatipid po tayo ‘no. Limang specimen so divided by 5 iyong magiging cost na lang ng PCR test kapag ito ay papasok sa guidelines. Sa loob po ng guidelines ng DOH, ito po ay maaari nating gamitin sa mga sitwasyon na mababa ang incidence ng potensiyal nang pagkakahawa ng COVID-19 (This has already been approved by the DOH and it is now in pools of 5. 5 specimens per test, so we can save [money]. 5 specimens divided by 5 will be the cost of the PCR test if it will be in the guidelines. Under the DOH guidelines, it can be used in situations with low incidence of potential transmission of COVID-19.”
The Philippine Red Cross has said that the saliva testing has a 99% success rate in the United States of America and has the least cost. Once the said testing will be proven effective by the DOH regulatory agencies, it will greatly help the COVID-19 testing nationwide. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
