tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Pediatr Infect Dis J
. 2021 Aug 1;40(8):e300-e304.
doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003198.
Performance of RT-PCR on Saliva Specimens Compared With Nasopharyngeal Swabs for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Children: A Prospective Comparative Clinical Trial
Yves Fougère[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jean Marc Schwob[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alix Miauton[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Francesca Hoegger[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Onya Opota[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Katia Jaton[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Rene Brouillet[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Gilbert Greub[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Blaise Genton[SUP] 2 5 [/SUP], Mario Gehri[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ilaria Taddeo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Valérie D'Acremont[SUP] 2 5 [/SUP], Sandra A Asner[SUP] 1 5 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Saliva reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is an attractive alternative for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in adults with less known in children.
Methods: Children with coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms were prospectively enrolled in a 1-month comparative clinical trial of saliva and nasopharyngeal (NP) RT-PCR. Detection rates and sensitivities of saliva and NP RT-PCR were compared as well as discordant NP and saliva RT-PCR findings including viral loads (VLs).
Results: Of 405 patients enrolled, 397 patients had 2 tests performed. Mean age was 12.7 years (range, 1.2-17.9). Sensitivity of saliva was 85.2% (95% confidence interval: 78.2%-92.1%) when using NP as the standard; sensitivity of NP was 94.5% (89.8%-99.2%) when saliva was considered as the standard. For a NP RT-PCR VL threshold of ≥103 and ≥104 copies/mL, sensitivity of saliva increases to 88.7% and 95.2%, respectively. Sensitivity of saliva and NP swabs was, respectively, 89.5% and 95.3% in patient with symptoms less than 4 days (P = 0.249) and 70.0% and 95.0% in those with symptoms ≥4-7 days (P = 0.096). The 15 patients who had an isolated positive NP RT-PCR were younger (P = 0.034), had lower NP VL (median 5.6 × 103 vs. 3.9 × 107, P < 0.001), and could not drool saliva at the end of the sampling (P = 0.002). VLs were lower with saliva than with NP RT-PCR (median 8.7 cp/mL × 104; interquartile range 1.2 × 104-5.2 × 105; vs. median 4.0 × 107 cp/mL; interquartile range, 8.6 × 105-1 × 108; P < 0.001).
Conclusions: While RT-PCR testing on saliva performed more poorly in younger children and likely after longer duration of symptoms, saliva remains an attractive alternative to NP swabs in children.
. 2021 Aug 1;40(8):e300-e304.
doi: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003198.
Performance of RT-PCR on Saliva Specimens Compared With Nasopharyngeal Swabs for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Children: A Prospective Comparative Clinical Trial
Yves Fougère[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jean Marc Schwob[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alix Miauton[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Francesca Hoegger[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Onya Opota[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Katia Jaton[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Rene Brouillet[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Gilbert Greub[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Blaise Genton[SUP] 2 5 [/SUP], Mario Gehri[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ilaria Taddeo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Valérie D'Acremont[SUP] 2 5 [/SUP], Sandra A Asner[SUP] 1 5 7 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34250969
- DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000003198
Abstract
Background: Saliva reverse transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is an attractive alternative for the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in adults with less known in children.
Methods: Children with coronavirus disease 2019 symptoms were prospectively enrolled in a 1-month comparative clinical trial of saliva and nasopharyngeal (NP) RT-PCR. Detection rates and sensitivities of saliva and NP RT-PCR were compared as well as discordant NP and saliva RT-PCR findings including viral loads (VLs).
Results: Of 405 patients enrolled, 397 patients had 2 tests performed. Mean age was 12.7 years (range, 1.2-17.9). Sensitivity of saliva was 85.2% (95% confidence interval: 78.2%-92.1%) when using NP as the standard; sensitivity of NP was 94.5% (89.8%-99.2%) when saliva was considered as the standard. For a NP RT-PCR VL threshold of ≥103 and ≥104 copies/mL, sensitivity of saliva increases to 88.7% and 95.2%, respectively. Sensitivity of saliva and NP swabs was, respectively, 89.5% and 95.3% in patient with symptoms less than 4 days (P = 0.249) and 70.0% and 95.0% in those with symptoms ≥4-7 days (P = 0.096). The 15 patients who had an isolated positive NP RT-PCR were younger (P = 0.034), had lower NP VL (median 5.6 × 103 vs. 3.9 × 107, P < 0.001), and could not drool saliva at the end of the sampling (P = 0.002). VLs were lower with saliva than with NP RT-PCR (median 8.7 cp/mL × 104; interquartile range 1.2 × 104-5.2 × 105; vs. median 4.0 × 107 cp/mL; interquartile range, 8.6 × 105-1 × 108; P < 0.001).
Conclusions: While RT-PCR testing on saliva performed more poorly in younger children and likely after longer duration of symptoms, saliva remains an attractive alternative to NP swabs in children.