A Mawaddah1, H S Gendeh, S G Lum, M B Marina. 1. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Malaysia. marinamatbaki@ppukm.ukm.edu.my.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: To review the present literature on upper respiratory tract sampling in COVID-19 and provide recommendations to improve healthcare practices and directions in future studies. METHODS: Twelve relevant manuscripts were sourced from a total of 7288 search results obtained using PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar. The search keywords used were COVID-19, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, swabs, SARS and CoV2. Original manuscripts were obtained and analysed by all authors. The review included manuscripts which have not undergone rigorous peer-review process in view of the magnitude of the topic discussed. RESULTS: The viral load of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the upper respiratory tract was significantly higher during the first week and peaked at 4-6 days after onset of symptoms, during which it can be potentially sampled. Nasopharyngeal swab has demonstrated higher viral load than oropharyngeal swab, where the difference in paired samples is best seen at 0-9 days after the onset of illness. Sensitivity of nasopharyngeal swab was higher than oropharyngeal swabs in COVID-19 patients. Patient self-collected throat washing has been shown to contain higher viral load than nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab, with significantly higher sensitivity when compared with paired nasopharyngeal swab. RECOMMENDATIONS: Routine nasopharyngeal swab of suspected COVID-19 infection should take anatomy of the nasal cavity into consideration to increase patient comfort and diagnostic yield. Routine oropharyngeal swab should be replaced by throat washing which has demonstrated better diagnostic accuracy, and it is safe towards others.
INTRODUCTION: To review the present literature on upper respiratory tract sampling in COVID-19 and provide recommendations to improve healthcare practices and directions in future studies. METHODS: Twelve relevant manuscripts were sourced from a total of 7288 search results obtained using PubMed, Medline and Google Scholar. The search keywords used were COVID-19, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, swabs, SARS and CoV2. Original manuscripts were obtained and analysed by all authors. The review included manuscripts which have not undergone rigorous peer-review process in view of the magnitude of the topic discussed. RESULTS: The viral load of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the upper respiratory tract was significantly higher during the first week and peaked at 4-6 days after onset of symptoms, during which it can be potentially sampled. Nasopharyngeal swab has demonstrated higher viral load than oropharyngeal swab, where the difference in paired samples is best seen at 0-9 days after the onset of illness. Sensitivity of nasopharyngeal swab was higher than oropharyngeal swabs in COVID-19patients. Patient self-collected throat washing has been shown to contain higher viral load than nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab, with significantly higher sensitivity when compared with paired nasopharyngeal swab. RECOMMENDATIONS: Routine nasopharyngeal swab of suspected COVID-19infection should take anatomy of the nasal cavity into consideration to increase patient comfort and diagnostic yield. Routine oropharyngeal swab should be replaced by throat washing which has demonstrated better diagnostic accuracy, and it is safe towards others.
Authors: Marie J Y Reolo; Carlos S R Eleazar; Joseph P Sonio; Ryonne T Solon; Janika L B Villamor; Alexandra K Loedin; Keith J M Moore Journal: J Biomol Tech Date: 2021-09
Authors: Keith J M Moore; Jeremy Cahill; Guy Aidelberg; Rachel Aronoff; Ali Bektaş; Daniela Bezdan; Daniel J Butler; Sridar V Chittur; Martin Codyre; Fernan Federici; Nathan A Tanner; Scott W Tighe; Randy True; Sarah B Ware; Anne L Wyllie; Evan E Afshin; Andres Bendesky; Connie B Chang; Richard Dela Rosa; Eran Elhaik; David Erickson; Andrew S Goldsborough; George Grills; Kathrin Hadasch; Andrew Hayden; Seong-Young Her; Julie A Karl; Chang Hee Kim; Alison J Kriegel; Thomas Kunstman; Zeph Landau; Kevin Land; Bradley W Langhorst; Ariel B Lindner; Benjamin E Mayer; Lee A McLaughlin; Matthew T McLaughlin; Jenny Molloy; Christopher Mozsary; Jerry L Nadler; Melinee D'Silva; David Ng; David H O'Connor; Jerry E Ongerth; Olayinka Osuolale; Ana Pinharanda; Dennis Plenker; Ravi Ranjan; Michael Rosbash; Assaf Rotem; Jacob Segarra; Stephan Schürer; Scott Sherrill-Mix; Helena Solo-Gabriele; Shaina To; Merly C Vogt; Albert D Yu; Christopher E Mason Journal: J Biomol Tech Date: 2021-09
Authors: Anthony M Tolisano; Timothy C Blood; Charles A Riley; Douglas S Ruhl; Steven S Hong Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2020-08-20 Impact factor: 2.970