Cotton-Tipped Plastic Swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR Diagnosis to Prevent Supply Shortages
Byron Freire‐Paspuel, Patricio Vega-Mariño, Alberto Vélez, Paulina Castillo, Eliana Elizabeth Gomez-Santos, Marilyn Cruz, Miguel Ángel García-Bereguiain
Abstract
CDC and WHO guidelines for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnosis only recommend synthetic fiber swabs for nasopharyngeal (NP) sampling. We show that cotton-tipped plastic swabs do not inhibit PCR and have equivalent performance to rayon swabs. Cotton-tipped plastic swabs are massively produced worldwide and would prevent swab supply shortages under the current high SARS-CoV-2 testing demands, particularly in developing countries.
Topics & Concepts
Economic shortageSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)MedicineVirology2019-20 coronavirus outbreakMicrobiologyVeterinary medicineBiologyInternal medicineOutbreakInfectious disease (medical specialty)DiseasePhilosophyGovernment (linguistics)LinguisticsSARS-CoV-2 detection and testingRespiratory viral infections researchSARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research