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A review of nasopharyngeal swab and saliva tests for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: Disease timelines, relative sensitivities, and test optimization
Author(s) -
Roque Marylin,
Proudfoot Kevin,
Mathys Vadim,
Yu Sophie,
Krieger Natalie,
Ger Thomas,
Gokli Kash,
Hamilton Stanley,
Cook Colin,
Fong Yuman
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of surgical oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.201
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1096-9098
pISSN - 0022-4790
DOI - 10.1002/jso.26561
Subject(s) - medicine , covid-19 , saliva , asymptomatic , pandemic , viral shedding , disease , virology , virus , infectious disease (medical specialty) , outbreak
Testing is an essential part of containment of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic. This review summarizes studies for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and testing. Nasopharyngeal samples are best at sensitivity detection, especially in early stages of disease and in asymptomatic individuals. Current swab processing involves a 100‐ to 1000‐fold dilution of the patient sample. Future optimization of testing should focus on using smaller volumes of viral transport media and swab designs to increase comfort and increased viral adhesion.