The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Thursday confirmed that it has successfully rolled out its trials for the saliva test which is considered a “cheaper and faster” alternative in tracing the coronavirus.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
PRC said that it is currently waiting for the “full approval” from the Department of Health (DOH) and other leading agencies concerned after meeting the standards of the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)—a laboratory measure used in detecting the severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus or SARS-CoV.
“In this test, saliva specimen is taken from individuals with less sensitivity and pain compared to swabbing—as the only thing needed is a drool,” PRC explained. From the development to the current run to have the saliva test be institutionalized, the PRC leads a tripartite agreement with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and the University of the Philippines.
The PRC met with Dr. Diane Ranoa, the Filipino scientist at the UIUC who is instrumental in the development of the saliva test last Sept. 4. Soon after the study protocol passed the requisites, PRC said that the test was forwarded to the University of the Philippines Research Board for Ethics Review Board Clearance and Approval (UP-ERB).
“For the test to move forward to national use, DOH oversees its effectiveness twice under its clinical laboratory panel,” PRC said. “The saliva test passed twice, and it is now under the health technologist-panel of DOH, nearing a full approval,” it added.
PRC explained that this tri-laboratory collaboration aims for a “more affordable and faster testing” capacity compared to the conventional swab test. “Saliva test is more convenient than swabbing due to its non-invasive way to collect viral samples,” PRC said.
In this type of testing, PRC sees lower economical cost since “saliva test doesn’t need the specimen collector and skilled professional to wear a personal protective equipment or PPE.”
PRC added that expensive collection vials with transport media and procurement of swab kits are also not required. “The sample processing time is lessened too, due to this test’s nature, running only three hours instead 6-7 hours needed for swab test,” it added.
PRC Chairman and CEO Senator Richard Gordon also explained that the “the best news in fact, is that saliva tests are cheaper by at least half the price since there is a cheaper labor cost, few equipment and reagents to be used in a lesser running time conclusive and concordant with the swab tests.”
The PRC furthered that saliva test “highly eases the process and time consumed” - as well as the shelf life of samples in room temperature - that last up to seven days compared to the swab which can only last up to three days.
Unlike in the swab testing, PRC explained that cold chain equipment such as refrigerators and cold boxes for transport and storage are also not needed in saliva testing. “In summary, there are only fewer procedures in saliva test which makes it quicker than swab test,” PRC added.