Eva Rajh (Author), Tina Šket (Author), Arne Praznik (Author), Petra Sušjan (Author), Alenka Šmid (Author), Dunja Urbančič (Author), Irena Mlinarič-Raščan (Author), Polona Kogovšek (Author), Tina Demšar (Author), Mojca Milavec (Author), Katarina Prosenc (Author), Žiga Jensterle (Author), Mihaela Zidarn (Author), Viktorija Tomič (Author), Gabriele Turel (Author), Tatjana Lejko-Zupanc (Author), Roman Jerala (Author), Mojca Benčina (Author)

Abstract

Early diagnosis with rapid detection of the virus plays a key role in preventing the spread of infection and in treating patients effectively. In order to address the need for a straightforward detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection and assessment of viral spread, we developed rapid, sensitive, extraction-free one-step reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) tests for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. We analyzed over 700 matched pairs of saliva and nasopharyngeal swab (NSB) specimens from asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Saliva, as either an oral cavity swab or passive drool, was collected in an RNA stabilization buffer. The stabilized saliva specimens were heat-treated and directly analyzed without RNA extraction. The diagnostic sensitivity of saliva-based RT-qPCR was at least 95% in individuals with subclinical infection and outperformed RT-LAMP, which had at least 70% sensitivity when compared to NSBs analyzed with a clinical RT-qPCR test. The diagnostic sensitivity for passive drool saliva was higher than that of oral cavity swab specimens (95% and 87%, respectively). A rapid, sensitive one-step extraction-free RT-qPCR test for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in passive drool saliva is operationally simple and can be easily implemented using existing testing sites, thus allowing high-throughput, rapid, and repeated testing of large populations. Furthermore, saliva testing is adequate to detect individuals in an asymptomatic screening program and can help improve voluntary screening compliance for those individuals averse to various forms of nasal collections.

Keywords

bris ustne sluznice;združeni vzorci;oral cavity swab;passive drool;pooling;

Data

Language: English
Year of publishing:
Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization: UL FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
Publisher: MDPI
UDC: 616.9
COBISS: 83744003 Link will open in a new window
ISSN: 1420-3049
Views: 141
Downloads: 38
Average score: 0 (0 votes)
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Other data

Secondary language: Slovenian
Secondary keywords: SARS-CoV-2;COVID-19 serological testing;Real-time polymerase chain reaction;Saliva;Covid-19;Serološko testiranje za COVID-19;Verižna reakcija s polimerazo v realnem času;Slina;
Type (COBISS): Article
Source comment: Nasl. z nasl. zaslona; Soavtorji: Tina Šket, Arne Praznik, Petra Sušjan, Alenka Šmid, Dunja Urbančič, Irena Mlinarič-Raščan, Polona Kogovšek, Tina Demšar, Mojca Milavec, Katarina Prosenc Trilar, Žiga Jensterle, Mihaela Zidarn, Viktorija Tomič, Gabriele Turel, Tatjana Lejko-Zupanc, Roman Jerala, Mojca Benčina; Opis vira z dne 5. 11. 2021; Eva Rajh in Tina Šket sta enakovredni prvi avtorici; Št. članka: 6617;
Pages: str. 1-19
Volume: ǂVol. ǂ26
Issue: ǂiss. ǂ21
Chronology: Nov. 2021
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216617
ID: 15199030