Diagnostic Yield of Saliva for SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Testing in Children

摘要

Pediatric saliva specimen demonstrated high sensitivity (93%) and specificity (96.2%) compared to paired nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) by Aptima SARS-CoV-2 Assay (Aptima). Viral loads were comparable in both specimen types. Saliva is a safe, noninvasive, and acceptable alternative specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection in children. ^g>molecular assay, pediatric, saliva, SARS-CoV-2. Respiratory specimens such as nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS), midturbinate swabs, and nasal swabs are the currently accepted samples for nucleic acid-based amplification testing of SARS-CoV-2 and recommended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) [1]. Collecting these invasive samples is uncomfortable, and particularly challenging in children. Additionally, it poses a risk of virus transmission to the clinicians and requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health care workers, which may be in limited supply [2]. Adoption of an easy, safe, and noninvasive specimen collection method offers an optimal option for SARS-CoV-2 testing in children. Recent studies demonstrate saliva to be an acceptable specimen for SARS-CoV-2 detection, both in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients although with variable sensitivity compared with NPS [3-6]. However, saliva performance data from the pediatric population are comparatively limited.