Evaluation of a Novel Mid-Turbinate Swab for the Detection of Sars-Cov-2

Abstract

Background: During the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, nasopharyngeal swabs, combined throat and nose swabs and saliva have all been investigated as valid samples for the laboratory detection of SARS-CoV-2. We investigated a novel mid-turbinate swab that has been designed to standardised self-collection and improve user comfort.Results: The overall positive percentage agreement between the Rhinoswab™ and the combined throat and nose swab was 95.2% at day 2 post participant recruitment and 93.3% on day 4 post participant recruitment. This was favourable to the positive percentage agreement with saliva at the same time points.Conclusion: In our study the Rhinoswab™ performed equally well in c..