December 2021. Volume 17. Number 4

For COVID-19 diagnosis, salivary sample detects fewer cases than nasopharyngeal exudate

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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AVC | Critically appraised articles

Fougère Y, Schwob JM, Miauton A, Hoegger F, Opota O, Jaton K, et al. 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. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40:e300-e304.
Reviewers: Rodríguez-Salinas Pérez E1, Aparicio Rodrigo M2.
1Pediatra. CS Colmenar Viejo Norte. Colmenar Viejo. Madrid. España.
2Pediatra. CS Entrevías. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid. España.
Correspondence: Enrique Rodríguez-Salinas Pérez. Email: erodriguez-salinas@pap.es
Reception date: 12/11/2021
Acceptance date: 23/11/2021
Publication date: 01/12/2021

Abstract

Authors’ conclusions: the sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assays in saliva were lower compared with nasopharyngeal swabs in children. Lower viral loads documented from saliva in younger children and those with longer duration of symptoms, probably limited the diagnostic performance of saliva in children <6 years of age and those with duration of symptoms ≥4 days.

Reviewers’ commentary: in general, saliva is a worse sample than nasopharyngeal exudate for the diagnosis of COVID-19 by RT-PCR in symptomatic patients. Sensitivities trend to be equal in the most infectious patients, those with high viral loads. In children under 6 years of age, the sensitivity of the saliva test is unacceptably low.

How to cite this article

Rodríguez-Salinas Pérez E, Aparicio Rodrigo M. En el diagnóstico de la COVID-19, la muestra salivar detecta menos casos que el frotis nasofaríngeo. Evid Pediatr. 2021;17:44.

AVC | Critically appraised articles

Fougère Y, Schwob JM, Miauton A, Hoegger F, Opota O, Jaton K, et al. 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. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2021;40:e300-e304.
Reviewers: Rodríguez-Salinas Pérez E1, Aparicio Rodrigo M2.
1Pediatra. CS Colmenar Viejo Norte. Colmenar Viejo. Madrid. España.
2Pediatra. CS Entrevías. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Madrid. España.
Correspondence: Enrique Rodríguez-Salinas Pérez. Email: erodriguez-salinas@pap.es
Reception date: 12/11/2021
Acceptance date: 23/11/2021
Publication date: 01/12/2021

How to cite this article

Rodríguez-Salinas Pérez E, Aparicio Rodrigo M. En el diagnóstico de la COVID-19, la muestra salivar detecta menos casos que el frotis nasofaríngeo. Evid Pediatr. 2021;17:44.

01/12/2021

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