Efficacy of swish and gargle and other collection methods with the use of Abbott ID NOW in COVID-19 detection.

Background: To evaluate the efficacy of the Abbott ID NOW system in detecting COVID-19 using different specimen collection methods, emphasizing diagnostic accuracy and patient comfort. Methods: Three cohorts were analyzed, including two using the nasopharyngeal (NP) swab technique and one utilizing the swish-and-gargle (SG) method. Positive percent agreement (PPA), negative percent agreement (NPA), and cycle threshold (Ct) values were assessed to determine the system's performance. Results: The PPA for the NP swab cohorts averaged around 70%, while the SG cohort exhibited a higher PPA of 80%. All cohorts maintained high NPAs, close to 100%. The SG method significantly reduced false negatives, especially at lower Ct values, indicative of elevated levels of viral RNA. Additionally, the NP swab method, often uncomfortable, posed challenges in repeated testing scenarios, particularly among healthcare workers. Conclusion: While the Abbott ID NOW system demonstrates reliable COVID-19 detection, the SG method emerges as a superior collection technique to NP swabs, offering enhanced diagnostic accuracy and improved comfort for test takers. This study underscores the importance of selecting appropriate collection methods to ensure accurate and efficient COVID-19 testing.