1. SARS-CoV-2 detection by rRT-PCR on self-collected anterior nares swabs or saliva compared with clinician-collected nasopharyngeal swabs — Denver and Atlanta, August – November, 2020
- Author
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Sarah E Rowan, Marcos C. Schechter, Jennifer Dolan Thomas, Kevin O'Laughlin, Tracy Scott, Halie K. Miller, Juliana Almeida da Silva, Ashley Paulick, Talya Shragai, Jesse J Carlson, Cdc Covid Response Lab Task Force, D. Joseph Sexton, Hannah L Kirking, Courtney C. Nawrocki, Grace E Marx, Mitsuki Koh, Jacqueline E. Tate, Hany Atallah, Yun F. Wang, Brad J. Biggerstaff, Emily A. Travanty, Karen A. Wendel, Sarah E. Smith-Jeffcoat, Rebekah J Stewart, Claire Hartloge, Brooks Moore, Alexis Burakoff, Rebecca Rosetti, Sarah E. Totten, Jesse Chavez-Van De Hey, Cdc Covid Emergency Response Ga Field Team, Paulina A. Rebolledo, Adam Hoffman, Caitlin Biedron, and Sadia Sleweon
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,2019-20 coronavirus outbreak ,Saliva ,Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ,Health professionals ,business.industry ,Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) ,education ,Anterior nares ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,business ,health care economics and organizations - Abstract
Nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) collected by trained healthcare professionals are the preferred specimen for SARS-CoV-2 testing. Self-collected specimens might decrease patient discomfort, conserve healthcare resources, and be preferred by patients. During August – November 2020, 1,806 adults undergoing SARS-CoV-2 testing in Denver, Colorado and Atlanta, Georgia, provided self-collected anterior nares swabs (ANS) and saliva specimens before NPS collection. Compared to NPS, sensitivity for SARS-CoV-2 detection by rRT-PCR appeared higher for saliva than for ANS (85% versus 80% in Denver; 67% versus 58% in Atlanta) and higher among participants reporting current symptoms (94% and 87% in Denver; 72% and 62% in Atlanta, for saliva and ANS, respectively) than among those reporting no symptoms (29% and 50% in Denver; 50% and 44% in Atlanta, for saliva and ANS, respectively). Compared to ANS, saliva was more challenging to collect and process. Self-collected saliva and ANS are less sensitive than NPS for SARS-CoV-2 detection; however, they offer practical advantages and might be most useful for currently symptomatic patients.
- Published
- 2021
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