Saliva Alternative to Upper Respiratory Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnosis

PCR of upper respiratory specimens is the diagnostic standard for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. However, saliva sampling is an easy alternative to nasal and throat swabbing. We found similar viral loads in saliva samples and in nasal and throat swab samples from 110 patients with coronavirus disease.

Q uantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) is the diagnostic standard for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) (1). Testing usually is conducted on upper respiratory specimens collected using swabs (1)(2)(3). However, this method requires multiple samples and has a low sensitivity (4 Furthermore, shortages of swabs, transport media, and personal protective equipment limit healthcare capacity to conduct SARS-CoV-2 tests that rely on swab sampling. Saliva sampling is a noninvasive alternative to upper respiratory swabbing. We compared paired self-collected saliva samples with healthcare worker-collected nasal and throat swab specimens from 110 patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. This analysis was part of a prospective study (Facilitating a SARS CoV-2 Test for Rapid Triage) at the Royal Liverpool University and Aintree University Hospitals (Liverpool, UK). We recruited participants who had provided written informed consent and had COVID-19 symptoms. The National Health Service Research Ethics Committee (20/SC/0169) approved the study under Integrated Research Application System no. 282147.
Of the 110 adults recruited from April through June 2020, a total of 61 (55.5%) were women. Most participants were hospitalized; 21 (19.1%) were discharged to home directly from the emergency department. Overall, 12 (10.9%) saliva and 14 (12.7%) nasal and throat swab specimens of 110 paired samples tested positive for PCR of upper respiratory specimens is the diagnostic standard for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. However, saliva sampling is an easy alternative to nasal and throat swabbing. We found similar viral loads in saliva samples and in nasal and throat swab samples from 110 patients with coronavirus disease.
SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Viral loads for all samples ranged from 36 to 3.3 × 10 6 copies/mL. Overall viral loads were similar among all positive samples (Figure).
Insignificant viral load discrepancies existed among all positive samples (p = 0.1955 by Wilcoxon signed-rank paired test). Two patients tested positive (<10 copies/mL) on nasal and throat swab samples and negative on saliva samples; the discrepancies might have resulted from the different processing times of the 2 specimens because freeze-thawing can reduce the stability of RNA (5,6).
Saliva sampling can improve SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic techniques. Saliva samples are easier to collect than nasal and throat samples; the technique is noninvasive, presumably preferred by the participant, and does not require sampling proficiency. In addition, saliva sampling does not require swabs and transport media, which have limited availability during the pandemic. Our technique uses a funnel which, although helpful, might not be necessary for sample collection. Our study focused on symptomatic hospitalized participants; further research is needed on saliva sampling for patients with mild and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Further studies should document the effects of storage and transport on RNA and viral loads. Rapid processing of saliva samples might benefit patients in low-and middle-income countries, where the pandemic is still accelerating and swab availability is limited (7). Furthermore, high-income countries can establish a cold chain for sample transportation. A cold chain could enable home sampling and screening of children who have rejected swabbing. It could also streamline research studies that require repeat sampling.
As rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection increase, we must continue to investigate efficient diagnostic strategies. Easy and effective diagnostic techniques, such as saliva sampling, should be evaluated in certified clinical laboratories.