Saliva can be more effective for Covid testing: Study
By IANS |
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2-year-old in UP tests positive for new Covid strain. Image Source: IANS News
New York, June 12 : The addition of a simple processing step to saliva samples before testing may improve Covid-19 detection rate, eliminate the challenges of nasopharyngeal testing and facilitate mass surveillance, researchers say.
The researchers, including Ravindra Kolhe from Augusta University in the US, found that an innovative protocol that processes saliva samples with a bead mill homogeniser before real-time PCR (RT-PCR) testing results in higher sensitivity compared to NPS samples. Saliva as a sample type for Covid-19 testing was a game-changer in our fight against the pandemic. It helped us with increased compliance from the population for testing along with decreased exposure risk to the healthcare workers during the collection process, said lead investigator Kolhe.
The collection of nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples for COVID-19 diagnostic testing poses challenges including exposure risk to healthcare workers and supply chain constraints. Saliva samples are easier to collect but can be mixed with mucus or blood, and some studies have found they produce less accurate results.
According to a new study, the addition of a single step before testing saliva samples using RT-PCR tests can improve their sensitivity and give accurate results, thereby, providing new hope for mass testing and surveillance of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
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IMAGE: Schematic overview of sample processing and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) assay workflow, depicting main steps. Matched nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) and saliva sample pairs collected in health care. view more
Credit: Nikhil S. Sahajpal
Philadelphia, June 10, 2021 - The collection of nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) samples for COVID-19 diagnostic testing poses challenges including exposure risk to healthcare workers and supply chain constraints. Saliva samples are easier to collect but can be mixed with mucus or blood, and some studies have found they produce less accurate results. A team of researchers has found that an innovative protocol that processes saliva samples with a bead mill homogenizer before real-time PCR (RT-PCR) testing results in higher sensitivity compared to NPS samples. Their protocol appears in
Georgia Esoteric and Molecular Laboratory at Augusta University Now Offers Diagnostic Service for Constitutional Genetic Disorders based on Optical Genome Mapping with Bionano’s Saphyr System
May 03, 2021 08:00 ET | Source: Bionano Genomics Bionano Genomics San Diego, California, UNITED STATES
SAN DIEGO, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Bionano Genomics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BNGO), announced today that the Georgia Esoteric and Molecular (GEM) Laboratory at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) at Augusta University is now offering diagnostic services for constitutional genetic disorders through a laboratory-developed test (LDT) based on optical genome mapping (OGM) with the Saphyr® System. The LDT developed by Dr. Ravindra Kolhe and his team is designed for pediatric patients suspected to have a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder. Dr. Kolhe is developing additional OGM-based LDTs for prenatal genetic disorders and other indications.