Wow, Now The Saliva-based COVID-19 PCR Test Is In Surabaya

Saliva Based Testing PCR service or saliva-based PCR introduced by the National Hospital Surabaya. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - National Hospital Surabaya introduced the latest Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test innovation, which is saliva-based or called PCR Saliva Based Testing.

"The Saliva PCR service is run with an ordinary PCR machine, it's just that the sample used is saliva, so there is no need for mucus samples from the throat and nose," said National Hospital CEO Adj. Prof. Hananiel Prakasya Widjaya in Surabaya, Tuesday, February 2.

According to him, this new innovation will make it easier for people to carry out PCR tests, especially for children, because sampling does not hurt.

"Based on several studies, the sensitivity of PCR with saliva is also more accurate than PCR which takes samples from the nasopharynx (nose) or oropharynx (throat)," he said.

He explained that before carrying out the saliva-based PCR examination, he is required to fast from food and drink for one hour.

"The goal is that the saliva that is released is really pure saliva without being contaminated with other chemicals," he said.

For the implementation of saliva-based PCR, the officer will first provide education on how to accommodate the saliva that is removed.

The officer will provide two tools, namely a funnel to hold saliva and a tube containing a special liquid to be mixed with saliva.

After that, he said, sampling was required to enter a special booth provided and accommodated in a 1 milliliter funnel.

When it has been accommodated, he continued, the saliva is mixed with a special liquid which is given in one container, then shaken, and the sample is handed back to the officer.

The results of this saliva examination can be obtained within 1x24 hours or the fastest is six hours.

Hananiel gave tips for good saliva production when doing the test because some people have difficulty producing saliva.

"One thing is that you don't have enough fluids, if you are dehydrated you will definitely have less saliva. Try to talk frequently, because if you talk often it will be easier to salivate," he said.

"People can do this Saliva PCR test service at a cost of IDR 850 thousand," he said.