tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Braz J Infect Dis
. 2020 Aug 31;S1413-8670(20)30115-X.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2020.08.001. Online ahead of print.
Saliva is a reliable, non-invasive specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection
Sara Nunes Vaz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniele Souza de Santana[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Eduardo Martins Netto[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Celia Pedroso[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Wei-Kung Wang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Felice Deminco Alves Santos[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Carlos Brites[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) of respiratory specimens is the gold standard test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, collecting nasopharyngeal swabs causes discomfort to patients and may represent considerable risk for healthcare workers. The use of saliva as a diagnostic sample has several advantages.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the use of saliva as a biological sample for diagnosis of COVID-19.
Methods: This study was conducted at Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory (LAPI), in Salvador, Brazil. Participants presenting with signs/symptoms suggesting SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent a nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and/or oropharyngeal swab (OPS), and saliva collection. Saliva samples were diluted in PBS, followed by RNA isolation and RT-Real Time PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Results of conventional vs saliva samples testing were compared. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS) version 18.0.
Results: One hundred fifty-five participants were recruited and samples pairs of NPS/OPS and saliva were collected. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR using saliva samples were 94.4% (95% CI 86.4-97.8) and 97.62% (95% CI 91.7-99.3), respectively. There was an overall high agreement (96.1%) between the two tests.
Conclusions: Use of self-collected saliva samples is an easy, convenient, and low-cost alternative to conventional NP swab-based molecular tests. These results may allow a broader use of molecular tests for management of COVID19 pandemic, especially in resources-limited settings.
Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostics; SARS-CoV-2; saliva.
. 2020 Aug 31;S1413-8670(20)30115-X.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjid.2020.08.001. Online ahead of print.
Saliva is a reliable, non-invasive specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection
Sara Nunes Vaz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniele Souza de Santana[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Eduardo Martins Netto[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Celia Pedroso[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Wei-Kung Wang[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Felice Deminco Alves Santos[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Carlos Brites[SUP] 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32888905
- DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2020.08.001
Abstract
Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) of respiratory specimens is the gold standard test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, collecting nasopharyngeal swabs causes discomfort to patients and may represent considerable risk for healthcare workers. The use of saliva as a diagnostic sample has several advantages.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to validate the use of saliva as a biological sample for diagnosis of COVID-19.
Methods: This study was conducted at Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory (LAPI), in Salvador, Brazil. Participants presenting with signs/symptoms suggesting SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent a nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and/or oropharyngeal swab (OPS), and saliva collection. Saliva samples were diluted in PBS, followed by RNA isolation and RT-Real Time PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Results of conventional vs saliva samples testing were compared. Statistical analyses were performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS) version 18.0.
Results: One hundred fifty-five participants were recruited and samples pairs of NPS/OPS and saliva were collected. The sensitivity and specificity of RT-PCR using saliva samples were 94.4% (95% CI 86.4-97.8) and 97.62% (95% CI 91.7-99.3), respectively. There was an overall high agreement (96.1%) between the two tests.
Conclusions: Use of self-collected saliva samples is an easy, convenient, and low-cost alternative to conventional NP swab-based molecular tests. These results may allow a broader use of molecular tests for management of COVID19 pandemic, especially in resources-limited settings.
Keywords: COVID-19; Diagnostics; SARS-CoV-2; saliva.