The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has expanded its testing services for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) here using the more affordable saliva-based method.

Merly Gludo, administrator of PRC General Santos/Sarangani chapter, said Tuesday the move aims to provide a cheaper alternative to residents who need to access reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing.

PRC, which unveiled the saliva-based method on Monday, has been offering nasopharyngeal and oral RT-PCR tests for PHP3,800.

Gludo said saliva testing costs PHP2,000 but they charge an additional PHP500 for the handling and transport of the specimen to their molecular laboratory in Cagayan de Oro City.

“The laboratory processing only takes two to three hours and can be released in 12 hours. But since we have no (laboratory) facility here, the releasing usually takes two to three days,” he told reporters.

She said they hope to shorten the process once the proposed PRC molecular laboratory in Cotabato City becomes operational in three months.

Gludo said studies showed that saliva RT-PCR testing is 98 percent accurate in terms of the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.

A briefer said the method requires patients to spit into a tube, making it far less invasive than the current nose and throat swab collection.

The PRC testing center will cater to clients every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Dr. Rochelle Oco, acting head of the City Health Office, said PRC’s saliva-based testing would expand the city’s testing capacity, which is a vital component of its “trace, test, treat and vaccination” strategy. (PNA)

Photo Credit: www.pia.gov.ph