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. 2020 Jul 28;71(15):841-843.
doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaa149.

Consistent Detection of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in Saliva

Kelvin Kai-Wang To  1   2   3 , Owen Tak-Yin Tsang  4 , Cyril Chik-Yan Yip  1   2 , Kwok-Hung Chan  1 , Tak-Chiu Wu  5 , Jacky Man-Chun Chan  4 , Wai-Shing Leung  4 , Thomas Shiu-Hong Chik  4 , Chris Yau-Chung Choi  4 , Darshana H Kandamby  6 , David Christopher Lung  7 , Anthony Raymond Tam  8 , Rosana Wing-Shan Poon  1   2 , Agnes Yim-Fong Fung  1 , Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung  8 , Vincent Chi-Chung Cheng  1   2 , Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan  1   2   3 , Kwok-Yung Yuen  1   2   3
Affiliations

Consistent Detection of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in Saliva

Kelvin Kai-Wang To et al. Clin Infect Dis. .

Abstract

The 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was detected in the self-collected saliva of 91.7% (11/12) of patients. Serial saliva viral load monitoring generally showed a declining trend. Live virus was detected in saliva by viral culture. Saliva is a promising noninvasive specimen for diagnosis, monitoring, and infection control in patients with 2019-nCoV infection.

Keywords: 2019 novel coronavirus; COVID-19; diagnostics; saliva; transmission; viral load.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Saliva viral load in patients with 2019 novel coronavirus infection. For this figure, specimens with undetected viral load were assigned a value of 101.
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References

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