Self-Collected Mid-Turbinate Swabs for Detecting Respiratory Viruses
Author Information
Author(s): Larios Oscar E., Coleman Brenda L., Drews Steven J., Mazzulli Tony, Borgundvaag Bjug, Green Karen, McGeer Allison J.
Primary Institution: Royal University Hospital, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Hypothesis
Self-collected mid-turbinate swabs are an acceptable alternative to nasopharyngeal swabs for diagnosing respiratory viral infections in adults.
Conclusion
Flocked mid-turbinate swabs are sensitive for diagnosing multiple respiratory viruses and may be preferred for outpatient studies.
Supporting Evidence
- Flocked mid-turbinate swabs were found to be sensitive for diagnosing respiratory viruses.
- The study involved 76 pairs of swabs collected from 38 symptomatic subjects.
- The results showed a high concordance rate of 91% between the two swab types.
Takeaway
This study found that patients can collect their own nasal swabs to test for viruses, and these swabs work just as well as those taken by doctors.
Methodology
Participants collected mid-turbinate swabs and had nurse-collected nasopharyngeal swabs, which were tested for respiratory viruses using PCR.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the majority of participants being healthcare workers who may be more adept at self-collection.
Limitations
The sample size was small and participants were primarily working-age adults, many of whom were healthcare providers.
Participant Demographics
Median age was 41.1 years, 72% female, 15% smokers, and 20% had underlying medical conditions.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.02
Confidence Interval
Not provided
Statistical Significance
p=0.02
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website