Comparing Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal Swabs for Diagnosing Respiratory Viruses
Author Information
Author(s): Kim Curi, Ahmed Jamal A., Eidex Rachel B., Nyoka Raymond, Waiboci Lilian W., Erdman Dean, Tepo Adan, Mahamud Abdirahman S., Kabura Wamburu, Nguhi Margaret, Muthoka Philip, Burton Wagacha, Breiman Robert F., Njenga M. Kariuki, Katz Mark A.
Primary Institution: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hypothesis
How do nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs compare in detecting respiratory viruses?
Conclusion
Neither nasopharyngeal nor oropharyngeal swabs were consistently more effective than the other for detecting respiratory viruses.
Supporting Evidence
- 1,402 out of 2,331 specimens tested positive for at least one virus.
- OP swabs were more sensitive for adenovirus and 2009 H1N1 virus.
- NP swabs were more sensitive for influenza B virus.
- Collecting both swabs maximized detection of respiratory viruses.
Takeaway
Doctors took two types of throat swabs to see which one finds more germs that make people sick, and they found that using both is best.
Methodology
Paired nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were collected from patients and tested for eight respiratory viruses using qRT-PCR.
Potential Biases
Different swab materials and designs may have influenced results.
Limitations
The study only compared NP and OP swabs and did not include other specimen types; the adult sample size was small.
Participant Demographics
The median age of participants was 1 year, with 81.6% under 5 years old.
Statistical Information
P-Value
<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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