Research Explorer

Project

The performance of saliva specimens for the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 and a saliva pooling strategy as a diagnostic tool for epidemiological studies in current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.
Code
01C04720
Duration
15 April 2020 → 14 January 2021
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Promotor
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Virology
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Microbial diagnostics
    • Clinical microbiology
    • Epidemiology
Keywords
Saliva molecular diagnostics diagnostic capacity pooling
 
Project description
 

Nasopharyngeal swabs are recommended for the molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 but offer disadvantages such as dire shortage. Therefore, we aim to validate saliva as an alternative specimen. We further plan to design a saliva pooling strategy as a part of a diagnostic tool for largescale
real-time epidemiological testing. Such strategy will be of value in the management of current pandemic.