By Fernan Angeles
THE Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is seriously considering saliva specimen-based COVID testing method, which is deemed cheaper and yields results in just four hours.
PRC Chairman and concurrent Senator Richard Gordon said that they are already awaiting approval from government for its implementation.
According to Gordon, they coordinated with the University of Illinois, where the test was made, and the UP College of Medicine in conducting a validation study on the new coronavirus test. “Wala pang apat na oras, tapos na agad, malalaman natin kung positive o negative ka,” Gordon said in a radio interview.
“Gagamitin pa rin natin ang (RT)-PCR. Ninety-six plates sabay-sabay ite-test every 2 hours ng PCR. Bukod sa mas mabilis, magmumura tayo.”
The PRC has so far conducted more than 1 million coronavirus tests since the pandemic began to spread, Gordon said.