BORACAY – All the 56 clients of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Boracay-Malay chapter (as of May 11) tested negative for coronavirus. They submitted saliva samples for molecular laboratory testing.
PRC Boracay-Malay chapter coordinator Rona Liza Inocencio-Orada said they started accepting batches of clients once a week beginning April 22 when the chapter rolled out saliva-based testing for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Saliva samples were transported to PRC’s laboratory in Passi City, Iloilo for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) processing.
The collection site in Sitio Ambulong, Barangay Manocmanoc here accepts clients every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. only.
“The clients who availed themselves of saliva-based testing mostly needed the test for travel purposes. May mga limang clients naman for employment purposes. The youngest client, so far, was three years old,” said Orada.
The non-invasive saliva test has a 98.11 percent accuracy.
Clients have to call 288-2068 or text 09179815207 for booking and to fill-up the form online.
Saliva testing costs P2,000 – cheaper compared to swab or nasal testing.
Interested clients are required to – for at least 30 minutes – refrain from smoking, drinking, eating or brushing their teeth before the scheduled saliva collection time.
Clients are asked to spit at least 2 ml of saliva into a small, sterile container.
The results are also sent directly to the email address of the client within 24 hours after the samples were received by Passi molecular laboratory./PN
