Quality and Statistical Evaluation of SARS-COV-2 Saliva Samples in Different Temperature Settings Genomik Solidaritas Indonesia (GSI) Laboratorium

Abstract

COVID-19 that began in late December of 2019 in Wuhan of China had caused a worldwide pandemic. It is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus that can be diagnosed with the gold standard method qRT-PCR from nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal swab samples which is stored in viral transport media. However, the rise of concerns regarding shortages of resources like diagnostic tools as well as medical personnels encouraged researchers to develop alternative diagnostic specimens like saliva samples for SARS-CoV-2 detection. The samples using saliva had performed a reliable and promising result for the diagnosis. Even so, challenges while handling saliva samples such as the variety in the viscosity of different saliva samples could contribute to the results during diagnosis. Hence, the application of heat treatment was used in this experiment in order to decrease its viscosity, while also observing for any changes in the result after the test. The CT-values of ORF1ab and N gene from the SARS-CoV-2 positive saliva samples were compared using statistical methods and the analysis showed no significant difference in the results of the saliva samples that had been treated with heat.