Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion is now looking at supporting a breath test for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) from another Israel-based tech-company.
The move came a few days after the exclusive meeting of Concepcion and SeaOil President and CEO Glenn Yu to explore the use of the Saliva COVID-19 Test, together with the Department of Science and Technology headed by Sec. Fortunato Dela Peña, Executive Director of DOST-PCHRD Dr. Jaime C. Montoya, and other public and private sector leaders.
“This new testing innovation, on top of the Saliva COVID-19 testing that we initially supported, will enhance the country’s testing arsenal, keep the economy open, and help our micro, small, and medium enterprises in different hard-hit sectors which are struggling the most. This will also ensure that we are using all available tools to combat the spread of the disease,” Concepcion said.
He believes that adding the Breath Test, a technology developed by an Israel-based company, BioSafety Technologies Ltd. (a subsidiary of TeraGroup), on top of the Saliva COVID-19 test, will deliver a fast clearance solution for determining if a person is negative or positive for COVID-19.
It can detect asymptomatic individuals as early as 1-2 days after being infected.
Within 1 minute, a person can undergo an easy non-invasive test, to determine if they are COVID19 Clear (Negative) or Suspected (further medical tests required).
The user-friendly process does not involve medically trained personnel.
This also has an optimal cost and performance per test.
Backed by the Israeli Ministries of Health & Defense, BioSafety Technologies has completed its clinical test trials in five of the largest hospitals in Israel.
Currently, BioSafety Technologies is collecting more statistical data of COVID-19 subjects from around the world, including Latin America, the United States, to further improve the tests’ validity.
Black Seal Advisors, Inc. CEO Shahar Turgeman will bring the newest testing innovation to the Philippines.
Both the Saliva and Breath tests have the potential in creating greater visibility against the COVID-19 virus, most especially in the tourism sector.
“The faster we can have the latest testing technology that brings quick results within minutes with the highest possible accuracy will save this sector. The tourism sector is a huge sector of our country and it caters to many of our MSMEs. This is one of the sectors that have been hard hit. The airlines are greatly affected,” Concepcion said.
“We have the responsibility to ensure the safety of the Filipino people which is why we have been advocating enhanced targeted mass testing through different testing innovations. We have to innovate and try as many viable testing strategies as possible. We need to help our MSMEs which serve as the backbone of our economy and will play a major part in our national recovery. Opening the economy is the only solution, but we need to do it safely. The goal is to save jobs, lives, and livelihoods,” he added.