The current evidence suggests major caution before collecting saliva samples for SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing from patients who have recently used mouthwashes or mouth rinses, since these products may have substantially decreased the viral load in the oral cavity, thus triggering a considerable risk of obtaining false negative test results. Obtaining patient history on recent usage of these compounds is almost mandatory before collecting saliva specimens. In such cases when mouthwashes or mouth rinses have been recently used by the patient, obtaining nasal samples (but not nasopharyngeal swabs, since the presence of antiviral compounds in the oropharynx may still impair viral RNA detection) may be advisable.
Virucidal effects of mouthwashes or mouth rinses: a world of caution for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva
Lippi, Giuseppe
;Nocini, Riccardo;
2022-01-01
Abstract
The current evidence suggests major caution before collecting saliva samples for SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing from patients who have recently used mouthwashes or mouth rinses, since these products may have substantially decreased the viral load in the oral cavity, thus triggering a considerable risk of obtaining false negative test results. Obtaining patient history on recent usage of these compounds is almost mandatory before collecting saliva specimens. In such cases when mouthwashes or mouth rinses have been recently used by the patient, obtaining nasal samples (but not nasopharyngeal swabs, since the presence of antiviral compounds in the oropharynx may still impair viral RNA detection) may be advisable.
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