Red Cross Baguio saliva testing on

Registration can be done online while the P2,000 fee must be paid through GCash, Paymaya or Security Bank before proceeding to the testing sites

Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Baguio chapter started saliva testing on Tuesday to determine the presence of the coronavirus disease using a non-invasive method.

Lawyer Erdolfo Balajadia, PRC-Baguio chair, said testing will be at the Melvin Jones grandstand every Tuesday and at the agency’s office along Harrison Road from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

Registration can be done online while the P2,000 fee must be paid through GCash, Paymaya or Security Bank before proceeding to the testing sites.

“This is a new system that is already proven. If they want, they can try it,” Balajadia said. “It is easier to get specimen samples at a cheaper cost.”

Only the PRC is authorized to conduct saliva tests, chair and Senator Richard Gordon said.

“Only Red Cross has been accredited by the Department of Health. The method will still use RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) machines to ensure accuracy. It is different from self-administered rapid antigen test,” he said.

Instead of the usual testing that costs more than P3,000, only saliva will be taken.

“It is more convenient because there is no need to poke the nose or the throat to get samples. With this, we just give the container to the client, the person will put saliva, give the container back and we will bring it to the Red Cross molecular laboratory in Clark where it will be examined,” Balajadia explained.

The result will be out within 24 to 48 hours and sent directly to the client by the molecular laboratory.

Balajadia clarified that saliva testing is not meant to compete with existing molecular laboratories in the city.

“We are not competing with the other testers doing this because we are cheaper and convenient. Red Cross is doing this for public service to people who refuse to undergo testing because of the poking of the nostrils and throat,” he said.