Table 1 General characteristics and outcomes related to saliva specimen of the included Studies
From: Saliva as a diagnostic specimen for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in suspected patients: a scoping review
Study team and reference | Sample | Method | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
To KKW, et al., [9] | 12 confirmed COVID-19 patients Median age: 62.5 years Age range: 37–75 years Female: 5 Male: 7 | Self-collected cough out-saliva RT-PCR technique Viral culture of SARS-CoV-2 was conducted: Virus-induced cytopathic effect was examined daily for up to 7 days. | The SARS-CoV-2 was detected in saliva specimens of 11 patients (91.7%). Median viral load: 3.3 × 106 copies per ml. Range of viral load: 9.9 × 102–1.2 × 108 copies per ml. Viral cultures were positive for three patients. |
Cheng VCC, et al., [17] | One confirmed SARS-CoV-2 patient | Self-collected saliva | Viral load of the pooled nasopharyngeal and throat swab: 3.3 × 106 copies per ml. Viral load of self-collected saliva: 5.9 × 106 copies per ml. |
Zheng S, et al., [18] | 65 confirmed COVID-19 patients Median age: 65 years Male: 40 (61.5%) Female: 25 (38.5%) | Self-collected cough out-saliva RT-PCR technique | SARS-COV-2 detection rates were significantly higher in sputum (95.65%, 22/23) and saliva (88.09%, 37/42) than in throat swabs and nasal swabs (P < 0.001). Viral load of sputum, saliva and nasal samples were significantly higher than that of throat swabs (P < 0.05). No significant difference was between sputum and saliva samples regarding viral load (P < 0.05). |
Chen L, et al., [19] | 31 confirmed COVID-19 patients Median age: 60.6 years Age range: 18–86 years Female: 15 Male: 16 | Saliva was collected from the opening of the salivary gland canal of cleaned oral cavity. RT-PCR technique | 13 cases were tested positive for oropharyngeal swab detection. Among these 13 patients, there were 4 cases with positive detection in saliva. |
To KKW, et al., [20] | 23 confirmed COVID-19 patients Median age: 62 years Age range: 37–75 years Female: 10 Male: 13 | Self-collected cough out-saliva RT-PCR technique | The SARS-CoV-2 was detected in saliva specimens of 20 patients (87%). The viral load in posterior oropharyngeal saliva samples was highest during the first week of symptom onset then gradually declined. |
Williams E, et al., [21] | 39 confirmed COVID-19 patients 50 PCR negative nasopharyngeal swabs | Self-collected saliva RT-PCR technique | The SARS-CoV-2 was detected in saliva specimens of 33/39 patients (84.6%; 95% CI: 70.0–93.1%) The SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 1 saliva specimen among 50 PCR negative nasopharyngeal swabs. |
Zheng S, et al., [22] | 96 confirmed COVID-19 patients A total of 1846 respiratory (1178 saliva and 668 sputum) samples were collected. | Self-collected cough out-saliva was collected from patients without sputum RT-PCR technique | The SARS-CoV-2 was detected in all 96 patients by testing respiratory samples. |
Han MS, et al., [23] | A 27-day old neonate with COVID-19 who presented clinical symptoms | RT-PCR technique | The SARS-CoV-2 was detected in all of the neonate’s clinical specimens, including blood, urine, stool, and saliva along with the upper respiratory tract specimens. |
Azzi L, et al., [24] | 25 confirmed COVID-19 patients with severe or very severe disease Mean age: 61.5 years Age range: 39–85 years Female: 8 Male: 17 | Self-collected saliva (drooling technique) RT-PCR technique | The SARS-CoV-2 was detected in all 25 patients’ first salivary swab In two patients the salivary samples proved positive while their respiratory swabs showed negative results on the same days. |