April 30, 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Detection on Self-Collected Saliva or Anterior Nasal Specimens Compared with Healthcare Personnel-Collected Nasopharyngeal Specimens

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

Keywords (Tags): testing

• A study of 730 adults undergoing simultaneous nasopharyngeal (NPS), anterior nasal (ANS), and saliva specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing found the sensitivity for saliva testing was 85% and sensitivity for ANS testing was 80%, which increased to 100% and 94%, respectively, among participants with culture-positive SARS-CoV-2 by any specimen type. Saliva (37%) and ANS (46%) testing were preferred by patients over NPS (13%), although a majority (87%) reported they would be willing to undergo an NPS collection in the future. 

Marx et al. (Apr 2021). SARS-CoV-2 Detection on Self-Collected Saliva or Anterior Nasal Specimens Compared with Healthcare Personnel-Collected Nasopharyngeal Specimens. Clinical Infectious Diseases https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab330