Experts from the Department of Health are studying the use of saliva-based COVID-19 testing in the country after the United States reportedly permitted its use as a new and inexpensive testing procedure.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said DOH laboratory experts panel has been studying the saliva-based COVID-19 testing for nearly a month now.
“Pinag-aaralan ‘yan ng lab experts panel natin. I think we got that information matagal na, siguro mga three weeks or one month ago already,” Vergeire told reporters in an online press briefing Wednesday.
(Our lab experts panel is studying that. I think we got that information a long time ago, maybe about three weeks or one month ago already.)
“Ito naman ay binigay natin sa ating mga laboratory experts panel para pag-aralan at tignan yung iba’t-ibang experiences ng ibang countries using this method. Kapag nagkaroon na tayo ng information we will provide everybody,” she added.
(We have given this to our laboratory experts panel to study and look at the various experiences of other countries using this method. Once we have the information, we will provide it to everybody.)
Vergeire, however, explained that saliva-based COVID-19 testing is not an entirely new method of screening but only a different method of collecting samples.
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“Itong saliva pinag-aralan as a sample na pwede or a specimen that we can use. Tinitignan ng ating lab expert panel kasi mas magiging madali kapag ka laway lang ang gagamitin,” Vergeire said.
(This saliva is studied as a possible sample or a specimen that we can use. Our lab expert panel looks at it because it will be easier if saliva is used.)
“Pero maraming mga pinakita ang ating lab experts panel na medyo mas tedious siya kasi minsan laway may ibang mga particles ng pagkain so marami tayong pinag-aaralan ukol diyan,” she added.
(But our lab experts panel showed it is a bit more tedious because sometimes saliva has other food particles so we will study it more.)
The new test was called SalivaDirect and was authorized by the US government. It was developed by researchers at the Yale School of Public Health and allows saliva samples to be collected in any sterile container.