Abstract
The use of saliva for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sparks debate due to presumed lower sensitivity and lack of standardization. Our aim was to evaluate the performance characteristics of (i) saliva collected by the ORAcollect TM device as a matrix for SARS-CoV-2 reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and (ii) 2 saliva rapid antigen tests (AgRDT). From 342 ambulatory individuals, both a nasopharyngeal swab and saliva sample via ORAcollect TM were obtained for a SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. Furthermore, 54 and 123 additionally performed the V-Chek TM or Whistling TM saliva AgRDT. In total, 35% of individuals screened positive for SARS-CoV-2 via nasopharyngeal swab. Saliva, as a matrix for the RT-PCR, had a specificity of 96.5% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 91.3%. Interestingly, 6 out of 8 patients thought to be false positive in saliva re-tested positive by nasopharyngeal sampling after 2 to 9 days. Both V-Chek TM and Whistling TM AgRDT had a lack of sensitivity, resulting in an NPV of 66.9 and 67.3%, respectively. Saliva proved to be a sensitive and specific matrix for SARS-CoV-2 detection by the RT-PCR. In this setting, saliva might have an earlier window of detection than the nasopharyngeal swab. By contrast, both AgRDT showed an unacceptably low sensitivity and NPV.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; rapid antigen test; saliva.
【저자키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, rapid antigen test, Saliva., 【초록키워드】 Saliva, coronavirus, RT-PCR, Antigen, Nasopharyngeal swab, SARS-CoV-2 detection, sensitivity, specificity, Characteristics, nasopharyngeal, Patient, False positive, Negative predictive value, Standardization, acute respiratory syndrome, individual, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test, positive, polymerase chain, thought, resulting, performed, lack, collected, evaluate, screened, individuals, NPV, Whistling, 【제목키워드】 Test, detection, RT-PCR, Rapid, matrix,