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.
Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2; cotton swab; rayon swab; surveillance; swabs.
Copyright © 2020 Freire-Paspuel, Vega-Mariño, Velez, Castillo, Gomez-Santos, Cruz and Garcia-Bereguiain.
MeSH terms
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Betacoronavirus / genetics
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Betacoronavirus / isolation & purification*
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COVID-19
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COVID-19 Testing
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Cellulose / supply & distribution
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Clinical Laboratory Techniques / instrumentation*
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Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods
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Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
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Coronavirus Infections / virology
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Cotton Fiber / supply & distribution
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Diagnostic Equipment / supply & distribution*
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Disposable Equipment / supply & distribution*
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Humans
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Nasopharynx
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Pandemics
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Plastics / supply & distribution
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Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
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Pneumonia, Viral / virology
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RNA, Viral / analysis
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Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / instrumentation*
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Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
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SARS-CoV-2
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Specimen Handling / instrumentation
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Specimen Handling / methods
Substances
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Plastics
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RNA, Viral
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Cellulose
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rayon, purified