Saliva RT-PCR Test

The Department of Health (DOH) recently gave Philippine Red Cross (PRC) the green light to use saliva tests in detecting Covid-19.

This means the cheaper and less invasive saliva-based Covid-19 test – an alternative to the real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) swab tests – can already be offered to the public.

PRC’s saliva Covid-19 test costs P2,000 while the RT-PCR test costs around P3,800 to P5,000.

Countries like the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan have either approved or have been using this method of using saliva samples to test for SARS-CoV-2, the new coronavirus that causes respiratory illness Covid-19, as an alternative to RT-PCR test, which is still considered the gold standard in coronavirus detection.

How is it done?

According to PRC lead researcher Michael Tee, the saliva Covid-19 test’s accuracy rate is 98.23 percent.

In an earlier statement, PRC biomolecular laboratories chief Paulyn Ubial said their study showed that the saliva-based test was 98.11 percent accurate in testing for coronavirus.

In an earlier statement, PRC biomolecular laboratories chief Paulyn Ubial said their study showed that the saliva-based test was 98.11 percent accurate in testing for coronavirus.

On the other hand, the RT-PCR swab test has a 99-percent accuracy rate.

(Based on our calculation, although it is still being debated by statisticians and doctors at this point, the accuracy of saliva test versus swab test is 98.11 percent. We will present these findings to the Covid lab expert panel of the DOH later in the afternoon.)

“Sa calculation po namin, although nagtatalo pa ang mga statistician at mga doctor at this point—mamayang hapon namin ipe-present sa Covid lab expert panel ng Department of Health—meron pong accuracy ang saliva versus the swab of 98.11 percent,” Ubial said over ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on January 20.

On August 15 last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to SalivaDirect – a saliva-based method of Covid-19 testing developed at the Yale School of Public Health.

On August 15 last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to SalivaDirect – a saliva-based method of Covid-19 testing developed at the Yale School of Public Health.

According to Yale, the procedure is “ideal for large-scale testing and offers a number of advantages over traditional testing methods.”

Where and how to undergo saliva tests?

People can now avail themselves of the saliva-based test by booking an appointment on the PCR’s official website. The tests can be carried out either at the PCR’s headquarters in Mandaluyong City or their molecular laboratory in Port Area in Manila.

Prior to booking an appointment, a patient should first answer and submit an e-CIF Form.

Payment for the saliva Covid-19 test should be made online: GCash via PayMongo or GrabPay via PayMongo.

Guidelines