Pooled Saliva Specimens for SARS-CoV-2 Testing
Bidisha Barat, Sanchita Basu Das, Valeria De Giorgi, David K. Henderson, Stacy L. Kopka, Anna F. Lau, Tracey Miller, Theresa Moriarty, Tara N. Palmore, Shari Sawney, Chris Spalding, Patricia Tanjutco, Glenn Wortmann, Adrian M. Zelazny, Karen M. Frank
Abstract
values across the platforms. The sensitivities of detecting a positive specimen in a pool compared with testing individually were 94%, 90%, and 94% for the CDC 2019-nCoV real-time RT-PCR, Panther Fusion SARS-CoV-2 assay, and Cobas SARS-CoV-2 test, respectively, with decreased sample detection trending with lower viral load. We conclude that although pooled saliva testing, as collected in this study, is not quite as sensitive as NP/MT testing, saliva testing is adequate to detect individuals with higher viral loads in an asymptomatic screening program, does not require swabs or viral transport medium for collection, and may help to improve voluntary screening compliance for those individuals averse to various forms of nasal collections.