THE SALIVA reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction test is accurate, a group of experts from Yale said.

Dr. Ann Wyllie of Yale School of Public Health, in collaboration with Dr. Shelli Farhadian of Yale School of Medicine, studied saliva as a reliable alternative to detect SARS-COV-2 or Covid19.

The experts concluded that saliva sample is more reliable and accurate in determining if a person is positive with the virus.

The Philippine Red Cross has been offering Saliva PCR test to the public since the first half of 2021. It is a cheaper, faster and non-invasive alternative than the nasopharyngeal swab, which is the current gold standard.

PRC lead researcher Michael Tee said that the Saliva Covid19 test has an accuracy rate of 98.23 percent.

In an earlier statement, PRC biomolecular laboratories chief Paulyn Ubial said their study showed that the saliva-based test was 98.11 percent accurate in testing for coronavirus.

On the other hand, the RT-PCR swab test has a 99-percent accuracy rate.

As of October 16, 2021, the PRC has tested 4,635,902 swab and saliva samples in its 13 operational molecular laboratories nationwide.