Concepcion to study saliva tests for Covid-19
After the launch of its pool testing initiative, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria “Joey” Concepcion 3rd is now planning to do a review and trial of saliva testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Concepcion held discussions with SeaOil Philippines President Glenn Yu on the possibility of holding saliva tests for Covid-19, where patients rinse their mouths with a saline wash and spit into a vial. This would then be examined by a small spectral device that would shine the light on a specimen and analyze the reaction.
Yu said saliva tests also use artificial intelligence technology and had the potential to reduce the result turnaround time to less than a second, which would lower testing costs and produce higher reliability percentages.
He added that the testing method, which was first introduced in Israel, would help revive the economy and bring micro, small and medium enterprises to bounce back, as well as reduce the demand for the use of scarce testing resources.
Saliva tests can be used in airports, ports, and terminals where institutions can conduct mass screenings to identify even asymptomatic patients with a low viral load
Concepcion said that the possible addition of the saliva test will enhance the country’s capacity for increased testing while reducing the strain on the health care system.
“What I’m trying to get at is we are not closing the door to innovations that are brought forward by different countries, different scientists who are developing this technology,” the Go Negosyo Founder added.
He said that he would review the testing system and work with the Department of Health and Go Negosyo’s Project ARK-PCR (antibody rapid testing kit- polymerase chain reaction) partners to provide the right guidance.
The group started its pool testing trials in the National Capital Region and Cebu earlier this month to test at least 160,000 individuals in low-prevalence areas and sectors such as market vendors.
The Department of Health said that experts are studying saliva testing to determine its effectiveness.
Almost 200K
The Philippines on Tuesday drew closer to the 200,000-case mark after logging 2,965 new cases, bringing the total number to 197,164.
The National Capital Region still led in the tally with 1,575 cases, followed by Negros Occidental, Laguna, Cavite and Batangas.
Meanwhile, nine vaccines are being considered for the Global Access Facility (Covax Facility) while 172 countries have sent possible expressions of interest to join the initiative, including the Philippines, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance.
The vaccines being considered are from Inovio, Moderna, CureVac, Institut Pasteur/Merck and Themis, AstraZeneca/University of Oxford, University of Hong Kong, Novavax, Clover Biopharmaceuticals, and the University of Queensland/CSL manufacturing groups, all of which have varying phases of clinical trials.
In a statement, the WHO and Gavi said the Covax research, led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), aims to develop three safe and effective vaccines that can be made available to countries who are participating in the facility.
Richard Hatchett, chief executive officer of CEPI, said the Covax initiative was built on “enlightened self-interest but also equity, leaving no country behind” amid the race of different countries to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.
“Only by taking a global view can we protect those most at risk around the world from the terrible effects of this disease. Covax can deliver the vaccines that could end the pandemic, but it needs countries to step forward both to join the Covax Facility, and also to address the serious funding shortfalls, including for R&D,” Hatchett added.
“Signing up to the Covax Facility gives each country its best chance at protecting the most vulnerable members of their populations — which in turn gives the world its best chance at mitigating the toll this pandemic has taken on individuals, communities and the global economy,” Dr. Seth Berkley, chief executive of Gavi, said.
Source: TheManila Times
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