@article{fdi:010091246,
  title = {{D}ry swabs and dried saliva as alternative samples for {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 detection in remote areas in {L}ao {PDR}},
  author = {{S}ibounheuang, {B}. and {B}outthasavong, {L}. and {C}hommanam, {D}. and {P}hommasone, {K}. and {P}anapruksachat, {S}. and {P}raphasiri, {V}. and {B}outtavong, {S}. and {S}isavath, {H}. and {C}hristy, {N}. {C}. and {L}etizia, {A}. {G}. and {M}ayxay, {M}. and {V}ongsouvath, {M}. and {A}shley, {E}. {A}. and {D}ubot {P}{\'e}r{\`e}s, {A}udrey},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{B}ackground {S}urveillance of {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 circulation is mainly based on real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, which requires laboratory facilities and cold chain for sample transportation. {T}his is difficult to achieve in remote rural areas of resource-limited settings. {T}he use of dried blood spots shipped at room temperature has shown good efficiency for the detection of arboviral {RNA}. {U}sing a similar approach, we conducted a study at 3 provincial hospitals in {L}aos to compare the detection of {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 from neat and dried spot samples.{M}ethods {B}etween {J}anuary 2022 and {M}arch 2023, patients with respiratory symptoms were recruited. {N}asopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs in virus transport medium ({VTM}), dry swabs, saliva, and dried saliva spotted on filter paper were collected. {A}ll samples were tested by {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.{R}esults {I}n total, 479 participants were included. {T}he {VTM} samples tested positive for 288 (60.1%). {H}igh positive percent agreements were observed for dry swab (84.8%; 95% {CI}, 80.2%-88.8%) and saliva (89.2%; 95% {CI}, 85.1%-92.6%) as compared with {VTM}. {T}here was a loss of sensitivity when saliva was dried on filter paper (73.6%; 95% {CI}, 68.1%-78.6%) as compared with saliva. {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 variant ({D}elta or {O}micron) had no significant impact on the performance of the different sample types.{C}onclusions {O}ur findings suggest that dry swabs could be a good alternative for sample collection and permit easy shipping at ambient temperature for subsequent viral {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 {RNA} purification and molecular investigation. {T}his is a useful tool to consider for a rapid implementation of large-scale surveillance of {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 in remote areas, which could be extrapolated to other respiratory targets during routine surveillance or in the case of a novel emerging pandemic.},
  keywords = {{COVID}-19 ; dry saliva spot ; dry swab ; resource-limited settings ; {SARS}-{C}o{V}-2 ; {LAOS}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{O}pen {F}orum {I}nfectious {D}iseases},
  volume = {11},
  numero = {8},
  pages = {ofae433 [9 p.]},
  ISSN = {2328-8957},
  year = {2024},
  DOI = {10.1093/ofid/ofae433},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010091246},
}