Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39044271›Full record

ArticleDiagnostic and prognostic research2024

Evaluating diagnostic accuracy of an RT-PCR test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva.

Natasha Samsunder, Aida Sivro, Razia Hassan-Moosa, Lara Lewis, Zahra Kara, Cheryl Baxter, Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Salim Abdool Karim, Ayesha B M Kharsany, Kogieleum Naidoo and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diagnostic and prognostic research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Natasha SamsunderCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Aida SivroCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Razia Hassan-MoosaCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Lara LewisCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Zahra KaraCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Cheryl BaxterCentre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI), Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Quarraisha Abdool KarimCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Salim Abdool KarimCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Ayesha B M KharsanyCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Kogieleum NaidooCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa.
Sinaye NgcapuCentre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa (CAPRISA), 719 Umbilo Road, Durban, 4001, South Africa. sinaye.ngcapu@caprisa.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9625-8131

Funding

Department of Science and Innovation, South Africa RIA2020EF-2928European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership RIA2020EF-2928
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveSaliva has been proposed as a potential more convenient, cost-effective, and easier sample for diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infections, but there is limited knowledge of the impact of saliva volumes and stages of infection on its sensitivity and specificity.

methodsIn this study, we assessed the performance of SARS-CoV-2 testing in 171 saliva samples from 52 mostly mildly symptomatic patients (aged 18 to 70 years) with a positive reference standard result at screening. The samples were collected at different volumes (50, 100, 300, and 500 µl of saliva) and at different stages of the disease (at enrollment, day 7, 14, and 28 post SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis). Imperfect nasopharyngeal (NP) swab nucleic acid amplification testing was used as a reference. We used a logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to estimate sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV, accounting for the correlation between repeated observations.

resultsThe sensitivity and specificity values were consistent across saliva volumes. The sensitivity of saliva samples ranged from 70.2% (95% CI, 49.3-85.0%) for 100 μl to 81.0% (95% CI, 51.9-94.4%) for 300 μl of saliva collected. The specificity values ranged between 75.8% (95% CI, 55.0-88.9%) for 50 μl and 78.8% (95% CI, 63.2-88.9%) for 100 μl saliva compared to NP swab samples. The overall percentage of positive results in NP swabs and saliva specimens remained comparable throughout the study visits. We observed no significant difference in cycle number values between saliva and NP swab specimens, irrespective of saliva volume tested.

conclusionsThe saliva collection offers a promising approach for population-based testing.

Indexed as

COVID-19Nasopharyngeal swabSalivaSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID39044271
PMCPMC11267770

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.