Swish and gargle saliva sampling is a patient-friendly and comparable alternative to nasopharyngeal swabs to detect SARS-CoV-2 in outpatient settings for adults and children.

ABSTRACT: Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) are considered the standard specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection by PCR. We aimed to compare detection performance and patient experience of NPS with swish and gargle saliva (SGS) to determine its potential as an accurate, easy-to-collect, and comfortable alternative. We conducted a prospective study from March to May 2021 and recruited pediatric and adult outpatients seeking COVID-19 testing. Paired NPS and 5-mL SGS were collected from each participant during the same visit and tested in parallel using validated rRT-PCR assays. Variant of concern (VOC) analysis was performed for positive NPS specimens. The participant completed the surveys regarding their experience with the two collection methods. We included 238 participants in the SARS-CoV-2 detection performanc

SUBMITTER: Isabel S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10714816 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature