For those who can't wait for the COVID-19 mass testing by their local government units, be ready to cough up some serious cash to get yourself checked.
Less than a week after The Medical City (TMC) introduced the drive-thru Enhanced Chemiluminescence Immunoassay antibody test, St. Luke's Medical Center (SLMC) has upped the ante with its own remote RT-PCR (reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction) swab testing, which is described as the "gold standard" for coronavirus testing.
According to a report by the US Food and Drug Administration, the RT-PCR test is for the "qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in upper and lower respiratory specimens (such as nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swabs, sputum, lower respiratory tract aspirates, bronchoalveolar lavage, and nasopharyngeal wash/aspirate, nasal aspirate, nasal swabs, or mid-turbinate swabs) collected from individuals suspected of COVID-19 by their healthcare provider."
Asymptomatic patients may schedule an appointment by calling SLMC's Product Information Center on weekdays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at least two days before the day of the swabbing.
Testing — which is said to cost a cool P8,150, compared to TMC's 2,200-peso antibody test — is done from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Quezon City hospital, and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the sister facility in Global City.
For contact details and more information about its "gold standard" COVID-19 drive-thru testing, check out St. Lukes' Facebook post:
