Saliva PCR versus NP PCR
Having a detection rate of saliva PCR equivalent to that of NP PCR is in line with a previous study done on 70 patients COVID-19 positive that showed excellent concordance between the two sampling methods [The median SARS-CoV-2 VL in saliva was approximately two log lower than that in the NP swab. With such a difference, an overall lower sensitivity of saliva PCR when compared to NP PCR would have been expected. This was not the case in the present evaluation because it is essentially the peak and not the extremes of the VL distribution curve that is shifted towards a lower value for saliva.In terms of procedures, patients were able to easily perform the saliva sampling on themselves after getting a precise explanation by the health professional. Some were not able though to drool saliva in the tube, but this did not affect the sensitivity, the VL being not significantly lower in this group.The FDA has granted emergency use authorization to various saliva-based assays for the SARS-CoV-2. Our pragmatic approach, using the same transport medium tube as for NP swabs, can be applied in any testing facility. The similar sensitivity and specificity achieved by sampling the saliva instead of the nasopharynx validates the sampling method and procedure, at least in this outpatient population with relatively high viral load. The results of the present study, together with that of Wyllie 