Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

September 21, 2020

Value of Swab Types and Collection Time on SARS-COV-2 Detection Using RT-PCR Assay

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  • Samples collected on swabs before washing in the morning had higher detection rates of SARS-CoV-2 than samples collected during afternoon on the same day in a study (n=48) completed in Hubei, China. Nasopharyngeal swab detection was 65% in the morning vs. 43% in afternoon, and oropharyngeal swab detection was 23% in morning vs. 8% in afternoon, both p<0.05. Nasopharyngeal swabs had significantly higher detection rate in both time periods than oropharyngeal swabs. There was no statistically significant difference between nasopharyngeal swabs and nasal swabs in both time periods (morning: 65% in nasopharyngeal vs. 58% in nasal; afternoon: 43% in nasopharyngeal vs. 35% in nasal).

Liu et al. (Sept 16, 2020). Value of Swab Types and Collection Time on SARS-COV-2 Detection Using RT-PCR Assay. Journal of Virological Methods. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jviromet.2020.113974