Background Salivary detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been proposed as an alternative to nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab testing. Our group previously published a study demonstrating that both testing methods identified SARS-CoV-2 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection methodology. We therefore conducted a follow-up study using antibody testing to evaluate the accuracy of saliva versus swabs for COVID-19 detection and the durability of antibody response. Methods Venous blood samples were collected from consenting participants and the presence of serum antibodies for SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated on a large, automated immunoassay platform by the Roche anti-SARS-CoV-2 qualitative assay (Roche Diagnostics, Laval Quebec). Individuals with a serum antibody cut-off index (COI) ≥ 1.0 were considered positive. Results In asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic patients with a previously positive standard swab and/or saliva SARS-CoV-2 PCR-test, 42 demonstrated antibodies with 13 patients positive by swab alone, and 8 patients positive by saliva alone. Conclusions Despite their status as ‘current standard’ for COVID-19 testing, these findings highlight limitations of PCR-based tests.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, antibodies, SARS-CoV-2, Saliva, coronavirus, 【초록키워드】 Saliva, Antibody testing, coronavirus, antibody, Antibody Response, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, anti-SARS-CoV-2, immunoassay, polymerase chain reaction, COVID-19 testing, Asymptomatic, Accuracy, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal swab, swabs, Patient, automated, serum antibody, Swab, methodology, respiratory, Roche, platform, Chain Reaction, venous blood, follow-up study, acute respiratory syndrome, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, alternative, individual, participant, limitation, serum antibodies, cut-off, positive, Roche Diagnostics, mildly symptomatic patients, highlight, polymerase chain, Result, collected, evaluate, evaluated, conducted, demonstrated, mildly symptomatic patient, 【제목키워드】 Serological testing, positive, salivary,