Saliva as effective as nasal swab in COVID-19 detection

Saliva as effective as nasal swab in COVID-19 detection

Photo has been used for illustrative purposes.

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

Researchers from the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences (MBRU), Dubai, have made a significant contribution to the fight against COVID-19 with the completion of a study into the effectiveness of saliva as an alternative to the nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 screening.

The study, a first in the UAE and the MENA region, was a close collaborative effort between the public and private sectors and academia. The research team from MBRU was joined by teams from Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Unilabs, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and the National Reference Laboratory.

The team took saliva and nasal swabs from 401 adults present for COVID-19 screening at Al Khawaneej Health Centre, Dubai, 50% of whom were