Saliva test can detect the asymptomatic COVID-19 cases: Study

TOKYO: According to a study, self-collected samples of saliva can be used to test for asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. It is published in the journal of Clinical Infectious Diseases and can provide an effective and quick mass testing technique. The study tested and compared the saliva samples and nasopharyngeal swabs of around 2000 Japanese people who were not infected by COVID-19.

Takanori Teshima, Hokkaido University, Japan, said that proper examination of asymptomatic patients would help to prevent the mass spread of novel coronavirus in communities and hospitals. Widely available PCR test and faster method of RT-LAMP test were the two virus amplification tests that were done on those samples. Both of these tests were also capable of differentiating the people with no virus in 99.9 per cent of the cases.

Teshima said that it is likely that the sensitivity of RT-LAMP test is higher than the PCR test. It means that this method will provide a significant alternate from the regular COVID-19 tests, especially in the places where we need quick diagnosis such as airports, sports venues, etc.

However, the researchers directed towards a probable limitation of the study which they didn’t follow up with proper outcomes. These tests of saliva can provide accurate, quick and easy method of testing COVID-19 infections. This method ensures minimal risk of transmission of novel coronavirus to health workers.