Abstract
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether mid-turbinate specimens reliably detect active infection in asymptomatic adults undergoing regular COVID-19 PCR testing.
Methods: Qualitative agreement between 2481 paired nasopharyngeal and mid-turbinate PCR results was assessed. Mean cycle threshold values for each positive result were evaluated as an indicator of active infection.
Results: Overall agreement between nasopharyngeal and mid-turbinate tests was 98.4%. Positive percent agreement was 37.2%, and negative percent agreement was ~100%. Test pairs with lower cycle thresholds (≤30 and ≤25) reached 67% and 100% positive percent agreement, respectively.
Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infections with high viral loads were detected regardless of specimen type. Mid-turbinate swabs reduced staff discomfort and may decrease repeated positive test results weeks or months after initial infection. Discordant pairs generally had high cycle threshold values (>30) indicating low viral load and little risk of transmitting COVID-19.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-COV-2 infection, Infection, Test, risk, PCR testing, PCR, Asymptomatic, Viral load, cycle threshold, nasopharyngeal, Qualitative, Swab, Cycle threshold value, positive result, specimen, positive test result, positive, repeated, decrease, initial, detect, evaluated, reduced, determine, reached, 【제목키워드】 Test, agreement, SARS-CoV-2 PCR, Result,