Due to the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for testing for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been created. The saliva-based COVID-19 PCR test is more convenient, less costly, and less time-consuming compared to other kinds of testing. Read more about it here.
Due to the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for testing for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been created. The most commonly known method of detection is through the invasive nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal (NPOP) swab tests.
QuickSpit™
Saliva-based genetic testing is more convenient, less costly and less time consuming compared to other kinds of testing. One of the products made by Nalagenetics, QuickSpit™, incorporates this method of testing to collect DNA and more recently to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus through the RT-PCR process. QuickSpit™ is a kit that offers everything you need for the saliva-collecting procedure to be done quickly and safely. The kit includes concise instructions and easy to use apparatuses. Human saliva will be collected in a tube and sent to the laboratory to be examined by professionals. The SARS-CoV-2 target genes are able to stay stable for 5 days under both cold (2°C - 8°C) and room temperatures (25°C), so they can be properly tested. This simple and cost-effective method of covid-testing was found to have a much high agreement rate of 97% in comparison to the paired NPOP swab specimens. Taking all of these factors into consideration, QuickSpit™ is a very attractive and currently available option for Indonesians to get tested for COVID-19.
Accuracy
Accuracy is measured by two things: sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity is the percentage of patients with COVID-19 that received a positive result. Specificity is the percentage of people that the test correctly identifies as a person without COVID with a negative result.
Some sources state that saliva-based testing has a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 98%[2], others state that saliva-based testing has an accuracy of 83% which is not that far off from the accuracy of NPOP tests with an accuracy of 85%.[3] QuickSpit™ is found to be 97% as accurate as conventional NPOP tests.[4] Furthermore, saliva-based testing is more sensitive to asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 infections compared to NPOP tests.[5]
How it works
The QuickSpit™ kit will provide you with the following: a collection tube, a mouthpiece, a tube cap, a biohazard bag and a mouthpiece disposal bag. Refrain from eating, drinking, smoking or brushing your teeth 30 minutes before the collection. First, attach the mouthpiece to the collection tube and spit into the tube until the indicated line. Remove the mouthpiece and place it in the disposal bag. Close the tube tightly with the cap and place it in the biohazard bag. Make sure it is sealed tightly. Pack everything back into the kit and it is ready to be picked up and sent to the laboratory for processing.
Results
The results will be reported to you approximately within a day after you have sent your results to the laboratorium. Thus, this method is quick and efficient.
In conclusion, QuickSpit™ is a safe and convenient way to get tested for the coronavirus from the safety and comfort of your home especially for children and elderly.
QuickSpit™ is now available on Triasse and Halodoc. Visit our page to learn more about it.
Sources:
- Wise, J. (2020, December 15). Covid-19: Lateral flow tests miss over half of cases, Liverpool pilot data show. The BMJ. Retrieved on 8 July 2021.
- Makarim, F. R. (2021, July 1). Efektifkah Deteksi COVID-19 dengan Melakukan Tes Saliva? Halodoc. Retrieved on 8 July 2021.
- Guillaume Butler-Laporte, M. D. (2021, March 1). Saliva Nucleic Acid Amplification Testing for Detection of SARS-CoV-2. JAMA Internal Medicine. Retrieved on 8 July 2021.
- Mahendra, C., Kaisar, M. M. M., Vasandani, S. R., Surja, S. S., Tjoa, E., Chriestya, F., Junusmin, K. I., Widowati, T. A., Irwanto, A., & Ali, S. (2021, January 1). Wide application of minimally processed saliva on multiple RT-PCR kits for SARS-CoV-2 detection in Indonesia. medRxiv. Retrieved on 8 July 2021. Teo, A. K. J., Choudhury, Y., Tan, I. B., Cher, C. Y., Chew, S. H., Wan, Z. Y., Cheng, L. T. E., Oon, L. L. E., Tan, M. H., Chan, K. S., & Hsu, L. Y. (2021, February 4). Saliva is more sensitive than nasopharyngeal or nasal swabs for diagnosis of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 infection. Nature News. Retrieved on 8 July 2021.
Article written by Stacey Haruman
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