Performance of Self-Collected Saliva Testing Compared with Nasopharyngeal Swab Testing for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 |
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| Authors: | Florence Carrouel,Martine Valette,Hervé Perrier,Maude Bouscambert-Duchamp,Claude Dussart,Paul Tramini,Denis Bourgeois |
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| Affiliation: | 1.Laboratory “Health Systemic Process”, EA4129, University Lyon 1, 69008 Lyon, France; (C.D.); (D.B.);2.Virology Laboratory, Institute of Infectious Agents, Croix-Rousse Hospital, Hospices Civils of Lyon, 69004 Lyon, France; (M.V.); (M.B.-D.);3.Clinical Research Unit, Protestant Infirmary, 69300 Caluire-et-Cuire, France;4.Department of Public Health, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France; |
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| Abstract: | The aim of this study was to determine whether self-collected pure saliva (SCPS) is comparable to nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs in the quantitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in asymptomatic, mild patients with confirmed COVID-19. Thirty-one patients aged from 18 to 85 years were included between 9 June and 11 December 2020. A SCPS sample and a NP sample were taken for each patient. Quantitative PCR was performed to detect SARS-CoV-2 viral load. Results of SCPS vs. NP samples testing were compared. Statistical analyses were performed. Viral load was significantly correlated (r = 0.72). The concordance probability was estimated at 73.3%. In symptomatic adults, SCPS performance was similar to that of NP swabs (Percent Agreement = 74.1%; p = 0.11). Thus, the salivary test based on pure oral saliva samples easily obtained by noninvasive techniques has a fair agreement with the nasopharyngeal one in asymptomatic, mild patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. |
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| Keywords: | saliva viral load COVID-19 nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 |
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