Acta Paediatr . Saliva is inferior to nose and throat swabs for SARS-CoV-2 detection in children

[tetano]

Acta Paediatr


. 2021 Jul 29.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16049. Online ahead of print.
Saliva is inferior to nose and throat swabs for SARS-CoV-2 detection in children


Marie-Louise von Linstow ¹ , Alexandra Kruse ² , Nikolai Kirkby ³ , Lillian Marie Søes ⁴ , Ulrikka Nygaard ¹ , Anja Poulsen ¹



Affiliations

• PMID: 34324722
• DOI: 10.1111/apa.16049

Abstract

It is important to identify children and adolescents infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), as they are often asymptomatic and may unintentionally spread the virus. However, information on the best sampling methods are limited. Most analyse nose and throat swabs with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), but these tests are uncomfortable and young children may not co-operate, increasing sub-optimal sample collection and false-negative results. Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in adult saliva, using RT-PCR^1,2 has shown promise. However, young children struggle to produce saliva spontaneously and there have been conflicting results about using this method for children.^3,4 In contrast, oral swabs cause minimal discomfort, do not generate aerosols, collect adequate viral material⁵ and can be used by parents or day care staff without personal protective equipment.