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European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases

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01-02-2021 | SARS-CoV-2 | Brief Report

Practical challenges to the clinical implementation of saliva for SARS-CoV-2 detection

Authors: Nancy Matic, Aleksandra Stefanovic, Victor Leung, Tanya Lawson, Gordon Ritchie, Lynne Li, Sylvie Champagne, Marc G. Romney, Christopher F. Lowe

Published in: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases | Issue 2/2021

Abstract

Due to global shortages of flocked nasopharyngeal swabs and appropriate viral transport media during the COVID-19 pandemic, alternate diagnostic specimens for SARS-CoV-2 detection are sought. The accuracy and feasibility of saliva samples collected and transported without specialized collection devices or media were evaluated. Saliva demonstrated good concordance with paired nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 detection in 67/74 cases (90.5%), though barriers to saliva collection were observed in long-term care residents and outbreak settings. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was stable in human saliva at room temperature for up to 48 h after initial specimen collection, informing appropriate transport time and conditions.

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Title: Practical challenges to the clinical implementation of saliva for SARS-CoV-2 detection
Authors: Nancy Matic
Aleksandra Stefanovic
Victor Leung
Tanya Lawson
Gordon Ritchie
Lynne Li
Sylvie Champagne
Marc G. Romney
Christopher F. Lowe
Publication date: 01-02-2021
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2
COVID-19
Published in: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases / Issue 2/2021
Print ISSN: 0934-9723
Electronic ISSN: 1435-4373
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-020-04090-5

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