Everyone who undergoes a COVID-19 swab test will make the unsettling discovery that it’s possible to scratch your brain through your nose.
At least that’s what it feels like.
Aside from our fingers when no one can see us, nothing goes up our noses, and there’s a good reason for that.
But since it’s our only viable method of testing to detect COVID-19, we haven’t really had a choice.
Until now, that is.
S’pore Reportedly Allows Saliva Testing For COVID-19 for Pre-Departure Tests For Some Flights
Instead of having a swab shoved up your nose before your flight, you could simply spit into a plastic funnel.
That’s right, the authorities have recently rolled out saliva tests as an option for pre-departure testing, as long as the country you’re heading to permits it.
US, Australia, Canada, and Japan are just a few of the countries that allow saliva pre-departure tests.
Lucence, a local biomedical company, is already working with healthcare providers to offer saliva testing for those going abroad.
Less Uncomfortable
The saliva test could soon become the preferred method of testing due to its non-invasive and less uncomfortable procedure.
Those getting tested first have to clear their throat by “hawking”, which is exactly what it sounds like. This ensures that their samples contains a high viral load.
Then, they simply have to spit into a funnel that is connected to a tube. Once around 0.5ml of saliva is collected, it’s mixed with a stabilisation fluid containing a reagent which helps to stabilise the coronavirus’ RNA at room temperature.
The sample will then be sent to Lucence for testing, and the results will be available within 24 hours.
The saliva test is currently available at two clinics, one of which – Gainhealth Clinic – is offering it at $145, similar to the price of a PCR test.
Could Be More Sensitive Than Nasal Swab Tests
A study last year involving 200 migrant workers here showed that the saliva tests could be more sensitive than nasal swab tests.
The group of workers, recruited from community care facilities and migrant worker dormitories, comprised confirmed and suspected cases. This included asymptomatic close contacts of cases.
The workers underwent three separate tests in the study – nasopharyngeal swabs, saliva tests, and self-administered nasal swabs.
Unfortunately for their noses, the study required that they be tested three times a day every four days.
When the results were compared for efficacy, the saliva test had the highest percentage of positive results, suggesting it could be more sensitive than the other two tests.
Self-administered nasal swabs, unsurprisingly, were the least sensitive.
While we certainly hope that saliva tests will soon replace nasal swabs as the norm, let’s just be thankful the whole anal swab testing experiment by China didn’t take off.
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