scholarly journals Concordance between PCR-based extraction-free saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 testing

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Chiara De Santi ◽  
Benson Jacob ◽  
Patricia Kroich ◽  
Sean Doyle ◽  
Rebecca Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saliva Sample ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Acid Extraction ◽  
Less Invasive ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Frequent Testing ◽  
High Level ◽  
University Settings ◽  
Level Of Agreement

Introduction: Saliva represents a less invasive alternative to nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection. SalivaDirect is a nucleic acid extraction-free method for detecting SARS-CoV2 in saliva specimens. Studies evaluating the concordance of gold standard NPS and newly developed SalivaDirect protocols are limited. The aim of our study was to assess SalivaDirect as an alternative method for COVID-19 testing. Methods: Matching NPS and saliva samples were analysed from a cohort of symptomatic (n=127) and asymptomatic (n=181) participants recruited from hospital and university settings, respectively. RNA was extracted from NPS while saliva samples were subjected to the SalivaDirect protocol before RT-qPCR analysis. The presence of SARS-Cov-2 was assessed using RdRp and N1 gene targets in NPS and saliva, respectively. Results: Overall we observed 94.3% sensitivity (95% CI 87.2-97.5%), and 95.9% specificity (95% CI 92.4-97.8%) in saliva when compared to matching NPS samples. Analysis of concordance demonstrated 95.5% accuracy overall for the saliva test relative to NPS, and a very high level of agreement (κ coefficient = 0.889, 95% CI 0.833–0.946) between the two sets of specimens. Fourteen of 308 samples were discordant, all from symptomatic patients. Ct values were >30 in 13/14 and >35 in 6/14 samples. No significant difference was found in the Ct values of matching NPS and saliva sample (p=0.860). A highly significant correlation (r = 0.475, p<0.0001) was also found between the Ct values of the concordant positive saliva and NPS specimens. Conclusions: Use of saliva processed according to the SalivaDirect protocol represents a valid method to detect SARS-CoV-2. Accurate and less invasive saliva screening is an attractive alternative to current testing methods based on NPS and would afford greater capacity to test asymptomatic populations especially in the context of frequent testing.

scholarly journals Concordance between PCR-based extraction-free saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 testing

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Chiara De Santi ◽  
Benson Jacob ◽  
Patricia Kroich ◽  
Sean Doyle ◽  
Rebecca Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saliva Sample ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Acid Extraction ◽  
Less Invasive ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Frequent Testing ◽  
High Level ◽  
University Settings ◽  
Level Of Agreement

Introduction: Saliva represents a less invasive alternative to nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection. SalivaDirect is a nucleic acid extraction-free method for detecting SARS-CoV2 in saliva specimens. Studies evaluating the concordance of gold standard NPS and newly developed SalivaDirect protocols are limited. The aim of our study was to to assess SalivaDirect as an alternative method for COVID-19 testing. Methods: Matching NPS and saliva samples were analysed from a cohort of symptomatic (n=127) and asymptomatic (n=181) participants recruited from hospital and university settings, respectively. RNA was extracted from NPS while saliva samples were subjected to the SalivaDirect protocol before RT-qPCR analysis. The presence of SARS-Cov-2 was assessed using RdRP and N1 gene targets in NPS and saliva, respectively. Results: Overall we observed 94.3% sensitivity (95% CI 87.2-97.5%), and 95.9% specificity (95% CI 92.4-97.8%) in saliva when compared to matching NPS samples. Analysis of concordance demonstrated 95.5% accuracy overall for the saliva test relative to NPS, and a very high level of agreement (κ coefficient = 0.889, 95% CI 0.833–0.946) between the two sets of specimens. Fourteen of 308 samples were discordant, all from symptomatic patients. Ct values were >30 in 13/14 and >35 in 6/14 samples. No significant difference was found in the Ct values of matching NPS and saliva sample (p=0.860). A highly significant correlation (r = 0.475, p<0.0001) was also found between the Ct values of the concordant positive saliva and NPS specimens. Conclusions: Use of saliva processed according to the SalivaDirect protocol represents a valid method to detect SARS-CoV-2. Accurate and less invasive saliva screening is an attractive alternative to current testing methods based on NPS and would afford greater capacity to test asymptomatic populations especially in the context of frequent testing.

scholarly journals Assay System for Simultaneous Detection of SARS-CoV-2 and Other Respiratory Viruses

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1084
Author(s):  
Ho-Jae Lim ◽  
Jung-Eun Park ◽  
Min-Young Park ◽  
Joo-Hwan Baek ◽  
Sunkyung Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Simultaneous Detection ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Analytical Performance ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Acid Extraction ◽  
Nucleic Acid Extraction ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
Syncytial Virus

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) triggers disease with nonspecific symptoms that overlap those of infections caused by other seasonal respiratory viruses (RVs), such as the influenza virus (Flu) or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). A molecular assay for accurate and rapid detection of RV and SARS-CoV-2 is crucial to manage these infections. Here, we compared the analytical performance and clinical reliability of Allplex™ SARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB/RSV (SC2FabR; Seegene Inc., Seoul, South Korea) kit with those of four commercially available RV detection kits. Upon testing five target viral strains (SARS-CoV-2, FluA, FluB, RSV A, and RSV B), the analytical performance of SC2FabR was similar to that of the other kits, with no significant difference (p ≥ 0.78) in z-scores. The efficiency of SC2FabR (E-value, 81–104%) enabled reliable SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal RV detection in 888 nasopharyngeal swab specimens processed using a fully automated nucleic acid extraction platform. Bland–Altman analyses revealed an agreement value of 95.4% (SD ± 1.96) for the kits, indicating statistically similar results for all five. In conclusion, SC2FabR is a rapid and accurate diagnostic tool for both SARS-CoV-2 and seasonal RV detection, allowing for high-throughput RV analysis with efficiency comparable to that of commercially available kits. This can be used to help manage respiratory infections in patients during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

A Comparison of Student and Instructor Preferences for Design and Pedagogy Features in Postsecondary Online Courses

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaolin C. Hu ◽  
Edward L. Meyen
Keyword(s):  
Social Networking ◽  
Research University ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Secondary Level ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Of Agreement

This study investigates the preferences of instructors and students for design and pedagogy features of online instruction at the post-secondary level. Participants included 60 instructors and 200 students at a comprehensive research university. Correlation coefficients of .95 on the design item rankings and .87 on the pedagogy item rankings were found between instructors and students. An independent sample T-test was conducted, resulting in a finding of significant difference between the preferences of instructors and students on 19 of 63 features. Additional findings included the high level of agreement on design and pedagogy features among all students as a group and subgroups (e.g., students earning regular university credit and those pursuing professional development goals.) An interesting finding was the concurrence in the low preferences by instructors and students. Both groups rated low those features pertaining to social networking and collaboration.

A Comparison of Student and Instructor Preferences for Design and Pedagogy Features in Postsecondary Online Courses

2013 ◽  
pp. 213-229
Author(s):  
Xiaolin C. Hu ◽  
Edward L. Meyen
Keyword(s):  
Professional Development ◽  
Social Networking ◽  
Research University ◽  
Online Courses ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Post Secondary ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Of Agreement

This study investigates the preferences of instructors and students for design and pedagogy features of online instruction at the post-secondary level. Participants included 60 instructors and 200 students at a comprehensive research university. Correlation coefficients of .95 on the design item rankings and .87 on the pedagogy item rankings were found between instructors and students. An independent sample T-test was conducted, resulting in a finding of significant difference between the preferences of instructors and students on 19 of 63 features. Additional findings included the high level of agreement on design and pedagogy features among all students as a group and subgroups (e.g., students earning regular university credit and those pursuing professional development goals.) An interesting finding was the concurrence in the low preferences by instructors and students. Both groups rated low those features pertaining to social networking and collaboration.

scholarly journals Screening for Stereopsis of Children Using an Autostereoscopic Smartphone

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Yanhui Yang ◽  
Huang Wu
Keyword(s):  
Weighted Kappa ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Signed Rank ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Signed Rank Test ◽  
3D Effects ◽  
High Level ◽  
Acuity Test ◽  
Stereo Acuity ◽  
Level Of Agreement

Background. The advantage of using an autostereoscopic smartphone is that it can achieve 3D effects without the need for glasses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether this technology could be utilized to detect stereoacuity. Methods. An autostereoscopic smartphone was used to imitate Lang stereotest I & II, Pass Test 3, Dinosaur Stereoacuity Test, and the Random Dot Stereo Acuity Test to screen the stereopsis of children from 3–6 years old. Results. No significant difference was found between each pair of groups (autostereoscopic smartphone vs. Lang stereotest I, Lang stereotest II, Pass Test 3, Dinosaur Stereoacuity Test, and Random Dot Stereo Acuity Test, respectively; Wilcoxon signed-rank test, P value all >0.05). All of the weighted kappa were higher than 0.84. Therefore, all of the comparisons between measurements showed a high level of agreement. Conclusions. The autostereoscopic smartphone is an effective tool when used for the screening of deficiency in stereopsis.

scholarly journals Comparison of Four Streptococcus pneumoniae Urinary Antigen Tests Using Automated Readers

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 827
Author(s):  
Alicia Yoke Wei Wong ◽  
Alexander Tony Arvind Johnsson ◽  
Karolina Ininbergs ◽  
Simon Athlin ◽  
Volkan Özenci
Keyword(s):  
Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Excellent Agreement ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Urinary Antigen ◽  
Clinical Routine ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Antigen Tests ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Of Agreement

Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen tests (UATs) may be interpreted using automatic readers to potentially automate sample incubation and provide standardized results reading. Here, we evaluated four UATs the BinaxNOW S. pneumoniae Antigen Card (Abbott, Chicago, USA), ImmuView S. pneumoniae and Legionella (SSI Diagnostica, Hillerød, Denmark), STANDARD F S. pneumoniae Ag FIA (SD Biosensor, Gyeonggi, South Korea), and Sofia S. pneumoniae FIA (Quidel Corporation, San Diego, USA) with their respective benchtop readers for their ability to detect S. pneumoniae urinary antigen. We found that these assays had a sensitivity of 76.9–86.5%, and specificity of 84.2–89.7%, with no significant difference found among the four UATs. The assays had a high level of agreement with each other, with 84.5% of samples testing consistently across all four assays. The automatically and visually read test results from the two immunochromatographic assays, BinaxNOW and ImmuView, were compared and showed excellent agreement between the two types of reading. Immunofluorescent-based assays, Sofia and STANDARD F, had significantly less time to detect compared to the two immunochromatographic assays due to having less assay setup procedures and shorter sample incubation times. In conclusion, the four UATs performed similarly in the detection of S. pneumoniae urinary antigen, and readers can bring increased flexibility to running UATs in the clinical routine.

Effectiveness of Brushing Associated with Oral Irrigation in Maintenance of Peri-Implant Tissues and Overdentures: Clinical Parameters and Patient Satisfaction.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcela Moreira Salles ◽  
Viviane de Cássia Oliveira ◽  
Ana Paula Macedo ◽  
Claudia Helena Silva-Lovato ◽  
Helena de Freitas Oliveira Paranhos
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Analogue Scale ◽  
Ring System ◽  
Complete Dentures ◽  
Gingival Index ◽  
Prosthetic Rehabilitation ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Probing Depth ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
High Level

Implant-supported prostheses hygiene and peri-implant tissues health are considered to be predictive factors for successful prosthetic rehabilitation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of brushing associated with oral irrigation measured as biofilm-removing capacity, maintenance of healthy oral tissues, and patient satisfaction. A randomized, crossover clinical trial was conducted with 38 patients who wore conventional maxillary complete dentures and mandibular overdentures retained by the O-ring system. The patients were instructed to use the following hygiene methods for 14 days: mechanical brushing [MB (brush and dentifrice - Control)]; and MB with oral irrigation [WP (Waterpik - Experimental)]. Biofilm-removing capacity and maintenance of healthy oral tissues were evaluated by the Modified Plaque Index (PI), Gingival Index (GI), Probing Depth (PD), and Bleeding on Probing Index (BP) recorded at baseline and after each method. In parallel, patients answered a specific questionnaire using a Visual Analogue Scale after each hygiene method. Data were analyzed by Friedman and Wilcoxon tests (α=0.05). The results showed significantly lower PI, GI, PD, and BP indices after application of the hygiene methods (P&lt;0.001) than those observed at baseline. However, no significant difference was found between MB and WP. The satisfaction questionnaire responses to both methods showed high mean values for all questions, with no statistically significant difference found between the answers given after the use of MB and WP (P&gt;0.05). The findings suggest that WP was effective in reducing PI, GI, PD, and BP indices and provided a high level of patient satisfaction.

REALIZATION OF PARENTAL INDICES OF COW PRODUCTIVITY IN DIFFERENT MILKING BREEDS AT BREEDING FARM "AGROFIRMA "PAKHMA"

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Yield ◽  
Cattle Breed ◽  
Holstein Cattle ◽  
Milk Productivity ◽  
Cattle Breeds ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Production Indices ◽  
High Level ◽  
Beta Lactoglobulin ◽  
Percentage Protein

Combination of genotypes of main types’ genetic markers causes milk productivity in cattle. The article studies correlation between kappa casein genotypes (C3N3), beta-lactoglobulin (LGB), their complexes and milk production indices in cows bred under equal conditions at a breeding farm. The calculation of parental milk yield and fat indices between the three breeds showed a significant difference (P>0,999) of PCI of Ayrshire and Holstein cattle breed milk yield - 3395 kg, PCI of fat - 0,22%; between Holstein and Yaroslavl cattle breeds - 3200 kg, PCI offat - 0,16%. A significant difference of realization indices of protein between all three breeds was not stated. The highest realization ofparental milk yield index was stated - between Ayrshire and Yaroslavl cattle breeds- 113%, Holstein cattle breed - 88%. As for the fat and protein indices, all three cattle breeds showed a high realization of PCI from 98% to 109%. However, Holstein cattle breed showed the highest percentage: protein - 101%, fat - 109%. A significant difference of PCI realization of milk productivity in CSN3 and LGB genotypes was not stated. It was also stated that there is a tendency of high level parental indices realization when there is a higher number of B-allele variants in genotypes of cows.

Using Histological and Chemical Methods for Detection of Unauthorized Tissues Addition in Emulsion Type Meat Product

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Tissue ◽  
Meat Product ◽  
Calcium Content ◽  
Processed Meat ◽  
Low Protein ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Plant Stem ◽  
High Level ◽  
Reliable Methods

Total twenty different processed meat plant producing emulsion type sausage were histologically and chemically examined for detection of adulteration with unauthorized tissues. Results revealed that samples were adulterated with different types of animal tissues included; hyaline cartilage, tendon, spongy bone, peripheral nerve trunk, basophilic matrix, lymphatic tissue, fascia, fibrocartilage and vascular tissue. Moreover, these samples were adulterated Also, adulterated with plant tissue included; plant stem, leaves and root. Chemical analysis showed a significant difference in their chemical composition (moisture, fat, protein, ash and calcium) content. Moisture and fat content varied around the permissible limit of E.S.S. while low protein, high ash and calcium content was detected in the examined samples. Therefore, Histological and chemical examinations can be used as reliable methods to detect adultration using unauthorized addition of both animal and plant tissues in processed meat product samples which revealed a high level of falsification.

Exploring The Effect of Visual Information Degradation on Human Perception and Performance In A Human-Telerobot System

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 1302-1307
Author(s):  
Richard Stone ◽  
Minglu Wang ◽  
Thomas Schnieders ◽  
Esraa Abdelall
Keyword(s):  
Visual Information ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Hit Rate ◽  
Word Level ◽  
Level Of Automation ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Human Operators ◽  
And Performance ◽  
High Level

Human-robotic interaction system are increasingly becoming integrated into industrial, commercial and emergency service agencies. It is critical that human operators understand and trust automation when these systems support and even make important decisions. The following study focused on human-in-loop telerobotic system performing a reconnaissance operation. Twenty-four subjects were divided into groups based on level of automation (Low-Level Automation (LLA), and High-Level Automation (HLA)). Results indicated a significant difference between low and high word level of control in hit rate when permanent error occurred. In the LLA group, the type of error had a significant effect on the hit rate. In general, the high level of automation was better than the low level of automation, especially if it was more reliable, suggesting that subjects in the HLA group could rely on the automatic implementation to perform the task more effectively and more accurately.

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