By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Provincial administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, revealed that the new COVID-19 laboratory at the Valladolid District Hospital will also use the new saliva COVID-19 test method alongside the current reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.

According to Diaz, the Negros Occidental provincial government will partner with Safeguard Diagnostics in conducting the proficiency test of the new laboratory.

He added that the laboratory will offer a cheaper rate of P2,500 for its RT-PCR test. It is almost half of the current RT-PCR cost of the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City which is currently pegged at P5,000.

“In some private labs it costs P4,000 to P4,500,” Diaz pointed out.

Patients will also be given the option to either choose the RT-PCR or saliva test.

The provincial administrator also welcomed the new method – saliva COVID-19 test – which was introduced by the Philippine Red Cross, even though they still have some reservations about its accuracy compared to the RT-PCR test.
Earlier, the Philippine Red Cross in Negros Occidental announced that they will start using the new saliva test method on February 5./DGB, WDJ