Testing for COVID-19 in Military Personnel Using Saliva and Blood Samples
Author Information
Author(s): Wijnberg Inge D., Soons Anton J., Reimerink Johan G., Wiersma Marit, Plat Marie Christine J., van Gool Tom, Jansen Gijsbert J., Stijnis Cornelis, Koning Jack G., Meijer Adam
Primary Institution: Expertise Centre, (Micro-) Biology and Infectious Diseases Cluster, Coordination Centre for Expertise on Working Conditions and Health (CEAG), Ministry of Defence, Doorn, NLD
Hypothesis
Can a combination of SARS-CoV-2 antibody rapid lateral flow assay and fluorescence in situ hybridization effectively determine the infection status of military personnel?
Conclusion
The study found that saliva is a preferred sample type for detecting SARS-CoV-2, but both tested methods did not meet the WHO's recommended sensitivity levels.
Supporting Evidence
- Saliva was shown to be a preferred sample type for FISH analysis.
- Both LFA and FISH methods did not reach the WHO recommended sensitivity levels.
- Participants reported a variety of clinical signs, with the highest incidence in those with confirmed exposure.
Takeaway
This study tested military personnel for COVID-19 using saliva and blood samples to see if they could quickly find out if someone was infected.
Methodology
The study involved testing blood, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal swabs, and saliva from military personnel at two time points using LFA and FISH methods.
Potential Biases
Potential over-reporting of clinical signs due to the study's design and logistical challenges.
Limitations
Limited sample sizes for training the FISH algorithm and insufficient cell material in NP/OP samples affected the results.
Participant Demographics
The study included 461 military personnel, predominantly male, with ages ranging from 15 to 69 years.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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