Initial studies show testing saliva is easy and economical than relying on respiratory swabs Pizaro Gozali Idrus | 05.01.2021 JAKARTA, Indonesia Two local studies in the Philippines have confirmed detection of COVID-19 by using saliva as an alternative specimen, the country’s Department of Health (DOH) said on Tuesday. A statement issued by the DOH stated that the studies carried out by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) have shown “growing" evidence that the saliva can be used as a specimen for testing. "Recently there has been growing evidence on the potential of saliva as an alternative specimen for COVID-19 testing and the DOH recognizes the potential use of saliva as a specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection through RT-PCR," said the statement.