COVID-19 6800 saliva; Evaluation of saliva for SARS-CoV-2 testing on the Roche cobas® 6800

COVID-19 Research Area(s): Diagnostics, Genomics & Transmission Dynamics

Diagnostic testing is vital to the COVID-19 pandemic response. The current standard is to test nasopharyngeal swabs, but the supply of swabs has been rapidly depleted. At SPH Virology, there is an automated COVID-19 molecular test which enables high-volume testing, but is currently only testing swabs and not other specimens due to concerns regarding compatibility of specimens like saliva on the instrument. As an easier sample to collect, which also minimizing supply chain concerns for swabs, we will be evaluating the potential to do COVID-19 testing on saliva using this high-throughput platform to further increase COVID-19 testing capacity in BC.