TY - JOUR
T1 - Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR Using Different Sample Sources
T2 - Review of the Literature
AU - Torretta, Sara
AU - Zuccotti, Gianvincenzo
AU - Cristofaro, Valentina
AU - Ettori, Jacopo
AU - Solimeno, Lorenzo
AU - Battilocchi, Ludovica
AU - D’Onghia, Alessandra
AU - Bonsembiante, Anna
AU - Pignataro, Lorenzo
AU - Marchisio, Paola
AU - Capaccio, Pasquale
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Objective: The most widely used diagnostic technique for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It can be done on different samples: nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) or oropharyngeal swabs (OPS), and self-collected saliva. However, negative findings do not rule out infection. Methods: A review was conceived to discuss advantages and limitations of the available diagnostic modalities for nonserologic diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 based on RT-PCR; the article also proposes some practical suggestions to improve diagnostic reliability. Results: A total of 16 papers (corresponding to 452 patients) of the 56 initially identified were included. Most of the papers describe findings from different samples obtained in limited case series; comparative studies are missing. Conclusions: Diagnostic accuracy of NPS and OPS is suboptimal and the risk of contaminated aerosol dispersal is not negligible. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be found in self-collected saliva specimens of many infected patients within 7 to 10 days after symptom onset. There is an urgent need for comparative trials to define the diagnostic modality of choice. Adequate education and training of health care personnel is mandatory.
AB - Objective: The most widely used diagnostic technique for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). It can be done on different samples: nasopharyngeal swabs (NPS) or oropharyngeal swabs (OPS), and self-collected saliva. However, negative findings do not rule out infection. Methods: A review was conceived to discuss advantages and limitations of the available diagnostic modalities for nonserologic diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 based on RT-PCR; the article also proposes some practical suggestions to improve diagnostic reliability. Results: A total of 16 papers (corresponding to 452 patients) of the 56 initially identified were included. Most of the papers describe findings from different samples obtained in limited case series; comparative studies are missing. Conclusions: Diagnostic accuracy of NPS and OPS is suboptimal and the risk of contaminated aerosol dispersal is not negligible. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be found in self-collected saliva specimens of many infected patients within 7 to 10 days after symptom onset. There is an urgent need for comparative trials to define the diagnostic modality of choice. Adequate education and training of health care personnel is mandatory.
KW - COVID-19
KW - emergency
KW - infection
KW - nasopharynx
KW - swab
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U2 - 10.1177/0145561320953231
DO - 10.1177/0145561320953231
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85090063772
VL - 100
SP - 131S-138S
JO - Ear, Nose and Throat Journal
JF - Ear, Nose and Throat Journal
SN - 0145-5613
IS - 2
ER -