scholarly journals Performance of At-Home Self-Collected Saliva and Nasal-Oropharyngeal Swabs in the Surveillance of COVID-19

Author(s):  
Paulo H. Braz-Silva ◽  
Ana C. Mamana ◽  
Camila M. Romano ◽  
Alvina C. Felix ◽  
Anderson V. de Paula ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTSARS-CoV-2 quickly spread in the worldwide population by contact with oral and respiratory secretions of infected individuals, imposing social restrictions to control the infection. Massive testing is essential to breaking the chain of COVID-19 transmission. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of at-home self-collected samples - saliva and combined nasal-oropharyngeal swabs (NOP) - for SARS-CoV-2 detection in a telemedicine platform for COVID-19 surveillance. We analyzed 201 patients who met the criteria of suspected COVID-19. NOP sampling were combined (nostrils and oropharynx) and saliva collected using a cotton pad device. Detection of SARS-COV-2 was performed by using the Altona RealStar® SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Kit 1.0. According to our data, there was an overall significant agreement (κ coefficient value of 0.58) between the performances of saliva and NOP. Assuming that positive results in either sample represent true infections, 70 patients positive for SARS-CoV-2 were identified, with 52/70 being positive in NOP and 55/70 in saliva. This corresponds to sensitivities of 74.2% (95% CI; 63.7% to 83.1%) for NOP and 78.6% (95% CI; 67.6% to 86.6%) for saliva. We also found a strong correlation (β-coefficients < 1) between the cycle threshold values in saliva and NOP. Ageusia was the only symptom associated with patients SARS-CoV-2 positive only in NOP (p=0.028). In conclusion, our data show the feasibility of using at-home self-collected samples (especially saliva), as an adequate alternative for SARS-CoV-2 detection. This new approach of testing can be useful to develop strategies for COVID-19 surveillance and for guiding public health decisions.

ACS Omega ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilka Engelmann ◽  
Enagnon Kazali Alidjinou ◽  
Judith Ogiez ◽  
Quentin Pagneux ◽  
Sana Miloudi ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol Volume 14 ◽  
pp. 1311-1317
Author(s):  
Daniel Romero-Alvarez ◽  
Daniel Garzon-Chavez ◽  
Franklin Espinosa ◽  
Edison Ligña ◽  
Enrique Teran ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Teyssou ◽  
Cathia Soulie ◽  
Benoit Visseaux ◽  
Sidonie Lambert-Niclot ◽  
Valentine Ferre ◽  
...  

The 501Y.V2 and the 501Y.V1 SARS-CoV-2 variants emerged and spread rapidly into the world. We analysed the RT-PCR cycle threshold values of 643 nasopharyngeal samples of COVID-19 patients at diagnosis and found that the 501Y.V2 variant presented an intermediate viral load between the 501Y.V1 and the historical variants.


2015 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 719-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Spencer ◽  
Jessie Chung ◽  
Mark Thompson ◽  
Pedro A. Piedra ◽  
Alan Jewell ◽  
...  

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260184
Author(s):  
Dominik Kerimov ◽  
Pekka Tamminen ◽  
Hanna Viskari ◽  
Lauri Lehtimäki ◽  
Janne Aittoniemi

Background SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis relies on the performance of nasopharyngeal swabs. Alternative sample sites have been assessed but the heterogeneity of the studies have made comparing different sites difficult. Objectives Our aim was to compare the performance of four different sampling sites for SARS-CoV-2 samples with nasopharynx being the benchmark. Study design COVID-19 positive patients were recruited prospectively, and samples were collected and analysed for SARS-CoV-2 with RT-PCR from all four anatomical sites in 43 patients, who provided written informed consent. Results All anterior nasal and saliva samples were positive, while two oropharyngeal samples were negative. There was no significant difference in the cycle threshold values of nasopharyngeal and anterior nasal samples while saliva and oropharynx had higher cycle threshold values. Conclusions Anterior nasal swab performs as good as nasopharynx swab with saliva also finding all the positives but with higher cycle threshold values. Thus, we can conclude that anterior nasal swabs can be used for SARS-CoV-2 detection instead of nasopharyngeal swabs if the situation would require so.


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (32) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anika Singanayagam ◽  
Monika Patel ◽  
Andre Charlett ◽  
Jamie Lopez Bernal ◽  
Vanessa Saliba ◽  
...  

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral load in the upper respiratory tract peaks around symptom onset and infectious virus persists for 10 days in mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (n = 324 samples analysed). RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values correlate strongly with cultivable virus. Probability of culturing virus declines to 8% in samples with Ct > 35 and to 6% 10 days after onset; it is similar in asymptomatic and symptomatic persons. Asymptomatic persons represent a source of transmissible virus.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Hoehl ◽  
Barbara Schenk ◽  
Olga Rudych ◽  
Stephan Göttig ◽  
Ivo Foppa ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundRapid antigen tests for SARS-CoV-2 became available recently, offering an opportunity to vastly increase testing capacities. Antigen tests offer lower sensitivity than the gold standard, RT-PCR, but rapid sample-to-answer time. High-frequency testing with an antigen test may offset the lower sensitivity, and testing can be done with at-home collection of samples, offering potential benefit in screening efforts. In this study, we set out to evaluate the practical application of self-performed high-frequency antigen test in a school setting.MethodA total of 711 teachers from 86 schools were enrolled in a seven-week study. After instruction, participants tested themselves every 48 hours at home with a rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 (target: nucleocapsid protein) in a self-collected anterior nasal swab. Positive results in the antigen test were confirmed via RT-PCR from the same sample that had been determined to be positive by the study participant. A questionnaire was given to all participants to evaluate whether the test failed to detect infection.Findings10 836 tests from 602 teachers were recorded and analyzed. A total of five confirmed cases of viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 was detected by use of the antigen test. One study participant with a SARS-CoV-2 infection was presymptomatic and four were mildly symptomatic at the time of the antigen test. Sixteen false positive antigen tests (0.15% of all tests) were reported, predominantly when the local incidence in the general population was low. In four cases, the study participant reported that a PCR had detected a SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the antigen test was negative, indicating a false negative result.InterpretationHigh-frequency, self-performed rapid antigen tests can detect individuals with a SARS-CoV-2 infection, and therefore potentially reduce transmissions. Testing may be most beneficial when applied during high local incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections and when mild or atypical symptoms are present. To avoid a high rate of false positive results, a test with optimized specificity should be used.FundingThe study was commissioned and funded by the Hessian Ministry of Education and the Hessian Ministry of Integration and Social Affairs.


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