The Health Ministry has approved the use of the "deep throat saliva" sampling method to diagnose COVID-19.

According to Health Minister Dr Adham Baba, this "cheap and consistent" method has been widely used in many countries to test for the coronavirus disease.

Unlike the current invasive procedures of taking nasopharyngeal (back of the nose) or oropharyngeal (back of the throat) swabs, the deep throat saliva test involves a test subject drawing out saliva from as deep as possible, just as one would clear his/her throat of phlegm, and spitting the sample into a specimen cup.

Adham said the ministry would start applying the deep throat saliva sampling method at hospitals soon, and the process will help speed up testing and increase the number of COVID-19 screenings.

"As this method is also self-administered, there is also savings as there will not be any need for the use of personal protective equipment," The Star quoted him saying in a statement.

Yesterday, 2,712 new COVID-19 cases and 25 deaths were recorded, bringing the total number of confirmed cases and fatalities in the country to 274,875, and 1,030, respectively.

The global coronavirus infection and death tally has surpassed 110 million, and 2.45 million, respectively.


Source: The Star
Photo source: theconversation.com