SALIVA-BASED MOLECULAR TESTING FOR SARS-COV-2

• Main Authors: RANOA, Diana Rose, FAN, Timothy M, HOLLAND, Robin L, BURKE, Martin D, GREEN, Kelsie J, HERGENROTHER, Paul J, WANG, Leyi, ALNAJI, Fadi G, BROOKE, Christopher B
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.09.2022
• Subjects: BEER; BIOCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL ORENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES; ENZYMOLOGY; MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEICACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS; METALLURGY; MICROBIOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; SPIRITS; VINEGAR; WINE

A saliva-based testing method that bypasses the need for RNA isolation/purification is described herein. In experiments with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 virus spiked into saliva, this method has a limit of detection of 500-1000 viral particles per mL, rivalling the standard NP swab method. Initial studies showed excellent performance with 100 clinical samples. This saliva-based process is operationally simple, utilizes readily available materials, and can be easily implemented by existing testing sites thus allowing for high-throughput, rapid, and repeat testing of large populations.