key: cord-0772665-2veit5ol authors: Desmet, T.; De Paepe, P.; Boelens, J.; Coorevits, L.; Padalko, E.; Vandendriessche, S.; Leroux-Roels, I.; Aerssens, A.; Callens, S.; Van Braeckel, E.; Malfait, T.; Vermassen, F.; Verhasselt, B. title: Combined oropharyngeal/nasal swab is equivalent to nasopharyngeal sampling for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic PCR date: 2020-06-07 journal: nan DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.05.20123745 sha: 781132aba16bbc50addc38a0ec196db83fe4803b doc_id: 772665 cord_uid: 2veit5ol Background: Early 2020, a COVID-19 epidemic became a public health emergency of international concern. To address this pandemic broad testing with an easy, comfortable and reliable testing method is of utmost concern. The nasopharyngeal (NP) swab sampling is the reference method though hampered by international supply shortages. A new oropharyngeal/nasal (OP/N) sampling method was investigated using the more readily available throat swab. Methods: In this prospective observational study 36 COVID-19 patients were tested with both a NP and combined OP/N swab for SARS-CoV-2 RNA by PCR. In hospitalized suspect patients, who tested negative on both swabs, extensive retesting was performed. The sensitivity of NP versus combined OP/N swab sampling on admission and the correlation between viral RNA loads recovered was investigated. Results: 35 patients were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 by means of either NP or OP/N sampling. The paired swabs were both positive in 31 patients. The one patient who tested negative on both NP and OP/N swab on admission, was ultimately diagnosed on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. A strong correlation was found between the viral RNA loads of the paired swabs (r = 0.76; P < 0.05). The sensitivity of NP and OP/N analysis in hospitalized patients (n = 28) was 89.3% and 92.7% respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrates equivalence of NP and OP/N sampling for detection of SARS-CoV-2 by means of rRT-PCR. Sensitivity of both NP and OP/N sampling is very high in hospitalized patients. Background: Early 2020, a COVID-19 epidemic became a public health emergency of 23 international concern. To address this pandemic broad testing with an easy, comfortable and 24 reliable testing method is of utmost concern. The nasopharyngeal (NP) swab sampling is the 25 reference method though hampered by international supply shortages. A new 26 oropharyngeal/nasal (OP/N) sampling method was investigated using the more readily 27 available throat swab. . CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. (which was not certified by peer review) The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. In order to address a pandemic, extensive mapping and therefore broad testing with an easy 62 and comfortable sampling method is of utmost importance. In the context of an international 63 shortage in nasopharyngeal swabs, the search for a suitable alternative is a global health 64 priority. This study evaluates a new combined oropharyngeal/nasal (OP/N) sampling method 65 using the more readily available throat swab. . CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. (which was not certified by peer review) The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. The study was approved by the ethical review board Ghent University Hospital (BC-07662). . CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. (which was not certified by peer review) The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. (which was not certified by peer review) The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. . https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.05.20123745 doi: medRxiv preprint Coronavirus Investigating and Research Team. 2020. A novel coronavirus from 197 patients with pneumonia in China Clinical characteristics of 138 hospitalized 200 patients with 2019 novel coronavirus-infected pneumonia in Wuhan, China World Health Organization. Laboratory testing for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-203 nCoV) in suspected human cases. Interim guidance Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons for Coronavirus Disease Nasal 212 swab sampling for SARS-CoV-2: A convenient alternative in time of nasopharyngeal 213 swab shortage Saliva is a 216 reliable tool to detect SARS-CoV-2. 2020 International license (SARS-CoV-2)-infected pneumonia (COVID-19) Detection of SARS-CoV-222 2 in different types of clinical specimens SARS-CoV-2 viral load in upper 225 respiratory specimens of infected patients. Letter to the editor Evaluating the accuracy of different respiratory specimens in the 230 laboratory diagnosis and monitoring the viral shedding of 2019-nCoV infection Comparison of nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 234 detection in 353 patients received tests with both specimens simultaneously Comparison of Copan Eswab and FLOQswab for COVID-19 PCR 238 diagnosis: working around a supply shortage International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. (which was not certified by peer review)The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. . CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license It is made available under a is the author/funder, who has granted medRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. The copyright holder for this preprint this version posted June 7, 2020. . https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.05.20123745 doi: medRxiv preprint