key: cord-0031219-bh8vp5j2
authors: Matic, Nancy; Lowe, Christopher F.; Ritchie, Gordon; Young, Matthew; Lawson, Tanya; Romney, Marc G.
title: Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 viral load among nasopharyngeal and oral samples compared to other Variants of Concern and impact on diagnostic testing strategy
date: 2022-05-11
journal: Clin Microbiol Infect
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2022.04.022
sha: a2b581200e69b9dd2a60f6e0f64278486ff64431
doc_id: 31219
cord_uid: bh8vp5j2

nan

With the rapid wave of Omicron (B.1.1.529) SARS-CoV-2 cases detected worldwide and 25 the significant mutation profile of this Variant of Concern (VOC), questions have been raised 26 about its impact on SARS-CoV-2 tissue tropism and viral load. As Omicron more adeptly 27 replicates in the upper respiratory tract than previous variants [1] , it has been proposed that saliva 28 or oral specimens may detect Omicron with greater sensitivity than those from the the lower viral load in oral specimens should be noted and has been described previously in 62 paired samples [4] . This work is consistent with other early findings demonstrating Omicron viral 63 load in nasal and mouth specimens was not significantly higher than other VOC even when 64 accounting for timing of sample collection [5] .

HKUMed finds Omicron SARS-CoV-2 can infect faster and 94 better than Delta in human bronchus but with less severe infection in lung

Saliva swabs are the preferred 97 sample for Omicron detection, medRxiv

SARS-CoV-2 RNA Quantification Using Droplet Digital RT-PCR

Saliva as a noninvasive 104 specimen for detection of sars-cov-2