User acceptability of saliva and gargle samples for identifying COVID-19 positive high-risk workers and household contacts

Kirsty McLennan, Christie Lang, Ian R Adams, Gina McAllister, Martin A M Reijns, Kate Templeton, Ingólfur Johannessen, Alastair Leckie, Nick Gilbert

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic nasopharyngeal or nose and/or throat swabs (NTS) have been the primary approach for collecting patient samples for the subsequent detection of viral RNA. However, this procedure, if undertaken correctly, can be unpleasant and therefore deters individuals from providing high quality samples. To overcome these limitations other modes of sample collection have been explored. In a cohort of frontline health care workers we have compared saliva and gargle samples to gold-standard NTS. 93% of individuals preferred providing saliva or gargle samples, with little sex-dependent variation. Viral titers collected in samples were analyzed using standard methods and showed that gargle and saliva were similarly comparable for identifying COVID-19 positive individuals compared to NTS (92% sensitivity; 98% specificity). We suggest that gargle and saliva collection are viable alternatives to NTS swabs and may encourage testing to provide better disease diagnosis and population surveillance.

Original languageEnglish
Article number115732
JournalDiagnostic microbiology and infectious disease
Volume104
Issue number1
Early online date26 May 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2022

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • COVID-19/diagnosis
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Humans
  • Mouthwashes
  • Nasopharynx
  • Pandemics
  • RNA, Viral/genetics
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Saliva
  • Specimen Handling/methods

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