SARS-CoV-2 Variants May Affect Saliva RT-PCR Assay Sensitivity.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants demonstrate predilection for different regions of the respiratory tract. While saliva-based reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing is a convenient, cost-effective alternative to nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS), few studies to date have investigated whether saliva sensitivity differs across variants of concern.

Methods

SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR was performed on paired NPS and saliva specimens collected from individuals with acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms or exposure to a COVID-19 household contact. Viral genome sequencing of NPS specimens and Los Angeles County surveillance data were used to determine the variant of infection. Saliva sensitivity was calculated usi

SUBMITTER: Chwa JS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12001863 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature