CALOOCAN CITY, Feb. 3 (PIA) -- Philippine Red Cross (PRC) biomolecular laboratories chief and former health secretary Paulyn Ubial on Tuesday cited some advantages of their latest Saliva RT-PCR test to detect COVID-19 including its quick result, convenience, and lower price compared to swab testing.
During the simultaneous launch of PRC’s Saliva RT-PCR Collection Drive Thru at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City and Mall of Asia in Pasay City, Ubial said compared to RT-PCR swab test, saliva testing results may be out within three to five hours and the cost is P2,000, way cheaper than P3,400, the current prices of the RT- swab test.
“Ang magada rito hindi na lalabas sa sasakyan yung mga tinetesting inaabot na lang sa kanila yung tube and dun sila mag co-collect sa loob ng sasakyan, ilalagay nila yung barcode at ia-abot sa sample collector, so mabilis lang, 5 to 10 minutes,” she said.
For his part, PRC chair and CEO, Senator Richard Gordon said those who want to book an appointment for the RT-PCR Saliva test may do so through: book.redcross1158.com, and test results will be sent via text message or email.
Gordon, and the management of SM Supermalls headed by its president, Steven Tan, sign a memorandum of agreement for the saliva testing at the PRC Logistics and Multipurpose Center.
He said currently, the PRC have the first two collection drive-thru, that will serve as specimen collection sites, in SM Megamall at the Mega A bus bay in EDSA, and at the 5 Ecom Open Parking in SM Mall of Asia. Samples collected in these areas will be forwarded to the PRC laboratories for testing.
He added that the PRC also plans to have the saliva testing made available in all its chapters nationwide. While a number of mall operators, he said, have expressed intent to partner with them.
Gordon said while the country is waiting for the COVID-19 vaccines, and if they become available, testing should be intensified.
“Kahit dumating na ang bakuna, importante pa rin ang pag-te-test para labanan ang COVID-19 kaya gumagawa ng paraan ang PRC upang mapadali at mapabilis ang pagtetest sa ating mga kababayan,” he said. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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