It may not be flashy but is saliva testing what we need to ensure we minimise the infiltration of Delta in New Zealand's community? Photo / Michael Craig
It may not be flashy but is saliva testing what we need to ensure we minimise the infiltration of Delta in New Zealand's community? Photo / Michael Craig
Opinion by Adam Pearse
Adam Pearse is Deputy Political Editor for the New Zealand Herald based in the gallery in Wellington.
There should be no doubt that widespread saliva testing is needed in New Zealand.
And it's not only because it would likely ease the immense stress the public system is feeling - exposed by a record-breaking week of testing in Tāmaki Makaurau.
It's because Kiwis are much too accustomedto saying 'she'll be right' when it comes to healthcare.
There are exceptions to this rule. One could point to the huge demand for testing after the Delta variant outbreak was revealed, as a sign people are putting aside this mindset to combat the virus.
However, such demand was to be expected as nasopharyngeal swab are a requirement for the more than 24,000 close contacts of positive cases, anyone symptomatic and those who attended roughly 500 locations of interest during specific times.
Anxiety also played a big part of that testing surge - people who were deemed unnecessary to be tested got one anyway - concerned they may be harbouring the virus.
Testing centres were slammed last week, with some people waiting more than 11 hours for a test. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Cast your mind back a few months - to a time when viral particles were a reality only at the border, in MIQ facilities and elsewhere in the world.
The demand for testing then was desperately low - swabs were largely taken from those who needed to satisfy their employers, despite the consistent call for anyone with flu-like symptoms to be tested.
But who can blame those who may have avoided testing centres when they felt a cold coming on?
With Covid seemingly banished from the New Zealand community, you can understand people preferring to stay at home with their sniffle rather than enduring the discomfort of a swab poking at their brain.
As a member of this group, you can imagine my enthusiasm to trial the saliva test produced by New Zealand company, Rako Science.
The test involves the subject drooling into a teaspoon before depositing the sample into a small tube. Subjects can not eat, chew gum, vape or brush their teeth an hour beforehand to ensure the sample isn't compromised.
If you can set aside your pride for a few minutes while you tease strands of drool down the tube, the test is as harmless as you could ask for.
It's not pretty but I managed to get the job done. Photo / Michael Craig
And in about four hours, a negative test result was sent via text - a much easier process than sitting for hours in line at a testing centre.
It's a confusing stance given saliva testing presents itself as a great alternative and something which would relieve the pain felt by border workers subjected to regular nasal swabbing.
Whether it's due to politics, poor communication or the slow-moving cogs of New Zealand's public health system, the delay in rolling out saliva testing will only put the country further at risk when Delta hits us again.
The simplicity of the kit will be attractive to a lot of people. Photo / Michael Craig
With current resources, it can be days before test results are returned. And no one wants to revisit testing centre queues which lasted more than 11 hours for some.
Testing those who are symptomatic and choose not to get tested are just as important to target as our border workers.
We have been given a glimpse of how Delta can rip through a community at tremendous speed with no invitation.
On balance, New Zealand has been fortunate that this outbreak - so far - has not ballooned into a crisis similar to what our transtasman cousins have experienced for months.
But if we are to ensure any trace of the virus is picked up as soon as possible, we need to have the appropriate surveillance - using the right tools for the job.
That means having an option for the dismissive which won't make their eyes smart and leave them thinking, '"I'm never bloody doing that again."
That means giving families, who might not have the resources to spend all day in line at a testing centre, an easy way to check whether they are putting their loved ones at risk.
If we continue to drag our heels on this, it won't be long before that "she'll be right" attitude is sending us in and out of lockdown because testing isn't cutting the mustard.
