Quantitative SARS-CoV-2 Viral-Load Curves in Paired Saliva Samples and Nasal Swabs Inform Appropriate Respiratory Sampling Site and Analytical Test Sensitivity Required for Earliest Viral Detection

Article Infectious Diseases

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA Using RT-qPCR in Saliva Samples and Nasopharyngeal, Lingual, and Buccal Mucosal Swabs

Tomoyuki Sasaki et al.

Summary: Oral swabs can be used for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection, as they show high concordance with nasopharyngeal swabs.

JAPANESE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2022)

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Article Microbiology

Pooled Saliva Specimens for SARS-CoV-2 Testing

Bidisha Barat et al.

Summary: Saliva testing showed high positive and negative agreement compared to nasopharyngeal swabs, especially for samples with moderate to high viral load. Pooling saliva specimens for testing exhibited decreased sensitivity compared to individual testing, but could still detect individuals with higher viral loads in an asymptomatic screening program. This method eliminates the need for swabs or viral transport medium and may improve screening compliance among individuals averse to nasal collections.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Test sensitivity is secondary to frequency and turnaround time for COVID-19 screening

Daniel B. Larremore et al.

Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a public health crisis due to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 through presymptomatic, symptomatic, and asymptomatic individuals. Effective population screening for the virus is essential for reopening societies and controlling its spread, with testing frequency and reporting speed playing crucial roles in its success. Test sensitivity is only marginally important compared to these factors.

SCIENCE ADVANCES (2021)

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Article Immunology

Self-Collected Oral Fluid Saliva Is Insensitive Compared With Nasal-Oropharyngeal Swabs in the Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Outpatients

Yukari C. Manabe et al.

Summary: In this study of nonhospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, it was found that self-collected oral fluid had lower diagnostic sensitivity compared to nasal-oropharyngeal specimens, especially beyond 5 days from symptom onset.

OPEN FORUM INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

SARS-CoV-2 Transmission From People Without COVID-19 Symptoms

Michael A. Johansson et al.

Summary: The study suggests that more than half of COVID-19 transmission may come from asymptomatic individuals, highlighting the importance of measures beyond identifying and isolating symptomatic cases in controlling the spread of the virus.

JAMA NETWORK OPEN (2021)

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Article Infectious Diseases

Saliva for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in school-age children

Hanan Al Suwaidi et al.

Summary: The study aimed to determine the diagnostic accuracy of saliva for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR in children, with findings suggesting a high sensitivity and specificity, making saliva a recommended diagnostic specimen for COVID-19 screening in children.

CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION (2021)

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Article Infectious Diseases

Validation of self-collected buccal swab and saliva as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19

Chee Wai Ku et al.

Summary: The study showed that self-collected saliva tests and buccal swabs have only moderate agreement with HCW-collected NPS in detecting SARS-CoV-2. Saliva tests and buccal swabs can serve as primary screening methods for COVID-19, but negative results should be confirmed with NPS to avoid false negatives.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES (2021)

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Article Virology

Handling and accuracy of four rapid antigen tests for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 compared to RT-qPCR

Flaminia Olearo et al.

Summary: This study evaluated the analytic performance and handling of four rapid Antigen Point of Care Tests, showing acceptable sensitivity and specificity in high viral load samples but a risk of contamination. Careful consideration is needed before clinical implementation due to lower sensitivity compared to RT-qPCR.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY (2021)

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Article Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

SARS-CoV-2 infection of the oral cavity and saliva

Ni Huang et al.

Summary: The study highlights the potential role of the oral cavity in COVID-19 pathogenesis, with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and transmission via saliva. Viral shedding dynamics in saliva correlated with symptoms, and asymptomatic individuals were found to harbor sustained salivary antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 post-recovery.

NATURE MEDICINE (2021)

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Editorial Material Critical Care Medicine

Saliva as a gold-standard sample for SARS-CoV-2 detection

Steph H. Tan et al.

LANCET RESPIRATORY MEDICINE (2021)

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Article Microbiology

Implementing SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Testing in the Emergency Ward of a Swiss University Hospital: The INCREASE Study

Giorgia Caruana et al.

Summary: After the authorization of RAT by the Swiss FOPH, its implementation in a university hospital's emergency ward allowed for rapid isolation of COVID-19 positive patients in conjunction with RT-PCR. However, the sensitivity of RAT varied depending on factors such as viral load and time of symptom onset, with lower sensitivity observed in late presenters and asymptomatic subjects.

MICROORGANISMS (2021)

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Article Virology

Performance of saliva as a specimen to detect SARS-CoV-2

Paulo Alexandre da Costa Fernandes et al.

Summary: Testing for SARS-CoV-2 using saliva has advantages but also challenges, with the sensitivity of detection varying depending on the viral genes and the system used for detection. Further consideration is needed due to potential false negative results and differences in sensitivity compared to nasopharyngeal swabs.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY (2021)

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Article Multidisciplinary Sciences

Limit of detection in different matrices of 19 commercially available rapid antigen tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

Ana Cubas-Atienzar et al.

Summary: In this study, an independent evaluation was conducted on the limit of detection (LOD) of 19 marketed Ag-RDTs, revealing that most tests performed well with direct culture supernatant but showed decreased sensitivity in Amies media. Additionally, after 7 days of storage at -80 degrees C, some tests exhibited reduced efficiency on stored dilutions of SARS-CoV-2.

SCIENTIFIC REPORTS (2021)

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Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Infections, Including COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections, Associated with Large Public Gatherings — Barnstable County, Massachusetts, July 2021

Catherine M. Brown et al.

MMWR-MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT (2021)

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Article Infectious Diseases

Comparison of seven commercial SARS-CoV-2 rapid point-of-care antigen tests: a single-centre laboratory evaluation study

Victor M. Corman et al.

Summary: This study compared the analytical sensitivity and specificity of seven commercially available antigen point-of-care test devices, showing that most devices have sensitivity overlapping with SARS-CoV-2 viral loads typically observed during the first week of symptoms, marking the infectious period in most patients. Antigen point-of-care tests with detection limits approximating virus concentrations at which patients are infectious may streamline decision-making in healthcare and public health.

LANCET MICROBE (2021)

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Article Immunology