Viral Load Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2Infection in Saliva in Korean Patients:a Prospective Multi-center Comparative Study
10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e287
- Author:
Seong Eun KIM
1
;
Ji Yeon LEE
;
Ahrang LEE
;
Soosung KIM
;
Kyung-Hwa PARK
;
Sook-In JUNG
;
Seung-Ji KANG
;
Tae Hoon OH
;
Uh Jin KIM
;
Seung Yeob LEE
;
Seung-Jung KEE
;
Hee-Chang JANG
Author Information
1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2020;35(31):e287-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:0
-
Abstract:
Background:This study was performed to compare the viral load and kinetics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in saliva with those in standard nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal (NP/OP) swabs.
Methods:Fifteen patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from four hospitals were prospectively enrolled and matched samples of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs and saliva were collected at Day 1 of admission and every other day till consequently negative for two times. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was performed to detect the envelope (E) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) genes.
Results:The cycle threshold values of saliva were comparable to those of NP/OP swabs overall (P = 0.720, Mann–Whitney U test). However, the overall sensitivity of rRT-PCR using saliva was 64% (34/53), which is lower than the 77% (41/53) using NP/OP swabs. The sensitivity of rRT-PCR using saliva was especially lower in early stage of symptom onset (1–5 days; 8/15; 53%) and in patients who did not have sputum (12/22; 55%).
Conclusion:Saliva sample itself is not appropriate for initial diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to replace NP/OP swabs, especially for the person who does not produce sputum. COVID-19 cannot be excluded when the test using saliva is negative, and it is necessary to retest using NP/OP swabs.
