Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon recently launched the saliva-based test for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confirmation service of the Philippine Red Cross- Bacolod City in a virtual press conference.
He said it is still Polymerase Chain Reaction-based but does not give discomfort to the patient unlike the swab method where the specimen is taken from the throat.
Gordon said it is cheaper as it only costs P2,000 compared to the swab Reverse Transcription- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test which is P3,400.
According to him, tourism establishments, bus and jeepney drivers, conductors and other workers can do the test because of its affordability and therefore many can go back to work.
Gordon said that even children may be able to eventually go back to school face-to-face because they have been tested and are safe.
He admitted that it took a while before the method was approved in the country and no less than Pres. Rodrigo Duterte took interest in this new procedure of detecting the coronavirus 2019 upon his presentation.
The people can now have a choice as to the method of test as both are available in Red Cross, he pointed out.
“We are not in the business of profit here. We are in the business of making sure that people get better by way of test,” he said.
The saliva RT-PCR test, he said, is being used by countries like Japan, Singapore and recently the United States.
Gordon hopes testing in Negros Occidental can also be done in malls as Red Cross has arrangement with SM.
He urged Negrenses to take advantage of this simplified but reliable test. He cautioned the people though that they should not be over confident.
Hand washing, wearing of masks are still a must for a person to be safe, he stressed.
Gordon said that as a procedure for saliva test, Gordon said, a patient should not eat, drink water and smoke 30 minutes before their schedule. Wearing of lipstick is even prohibited.
He expressed optimism the Filipinos will rise to the challenges of COVID-19 and eventually get back to normal
“We can win this and we will win this. Science will win, our devotion to our families will make us win,” he said.JSC/Lljr/PIA6 Negros Occidental
