Gordon denies receiving DOH recommendation for further study on saliva test

The Department of Health (DOH) did not send any recommendation to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) regarding its application for the use of saliva test to detect COVID-19, Senator Richard Gordon said on Tuesday.

"I deny and reject what Dr. Vergeire said. Siguro naiipit siya. They never sent us a letter on November 25th. PRC has not received any formal recommendation from DOH," Gordon, chairman of the humanitarian organization, told reporters in an online interview.

On Monday, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the use of saliva test as an alternative to the RT-PCR test needs further study.

She added that the DOH sent its recommendations to the PRC last November which include conducting further study, increasing the number of participants in its trial, and securing Food and Drug Administration approval for a saliva testing kit.

Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte said the country should use it, citing information from Gordon that its results are 99% accurate.

"I would like to thank the President, I'm sure he wasn't joking [when he said na] kung efffective 'yan gamitin natin," the senator said.

Testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon and private sector initiative Project ARK have likewise vouched for saliva and breath testing for COVID-19.

Gordon said that using these cheaper saliva tests would help decrease PhilHealth's arrears in shouldering COVID-19 tests.

The debt of PhilHealth to the PRC for still unpaid COVID-19 tests have accumulated to P823.7 million, according to the senator.—AOL, GMA News