Saliva test sampling soon in malls – Red Cross

MANILA, Philippines — Saliva testing for COVID-19 will be available at major malls in Metro Manila, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said yesterday.

The PRC signed a memorandum of agreement with SM Supermalls for the establishment of saliva collection sites at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

PRC chairman Sen. Richard Gordon said samples would still be processed in Red Cross laboratories in Metro Manila and the malls would only serve as specimen collection areas.

Earlier, the PRC said it was also going to talk with school administrators and other private companies for the use of their property for saliva tests.

The Red Cross will start the rollout of saliva COVID-19 tests nationwide, through its provincial laboratories.

“Even if vaccines arrive, testing is still important to fight COVID-19. We are heading toward nationwide saliva RT-PCR testing to help industries and schools open in this new normal,” Gordon said.

The PRC started offering saliva testing in its Metro Manila laboratories last week following approval from the Department of Health.

It is waiting for the DOH to allow the saliva tests for public use as the new mode is still limited to the PRC laboratories.

“Saliva testing will be done in the parking lot, like drive through,” PRC Bio-Molecular Laboratories chief Paulyn Ubial said.

She said clients would remain in their car and would be given test kits where they would spit out saliva into the tubes.

The tubes will be collected by sample collectors.

The samples will be run through the RT-PCR, which is also being used to process nasopharyngeal swab specimens.

“Saliva testing costs P2,000, cheaper by 50 percent compared to swab testing. If many will be tested, the PRC can lower the price even more,” Ubial said.

Currently, saliva testing is being done only in two laboratories of the PRC at its offices in Port Area, Manila and Mandaluyong.

The agency is targeting to make saliva testing available in all of its molecular laboratories and 109 chapters nationwide.

Ubial said 30-minute fasting is required before a person undergoes saliva test.

“Thirty minutes before the test, nothing should be put inside the mouth. You cannot even brush your teeth or smoke a cigarette. You cannot even put on lipstick because it can contaminate the samples,” the former health secretary added.