Nose vs throat LFTs
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Performance of oropharyngeal swabs versus anterior nasal swabs for detecting SARS-CoV-2 by lateral flow test
IRAS ID
314859
Contact name
Marco Lee
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Integrated Pathology Solutions LLP, Airedale General Hospital
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 1 days
Research summary
Lateral flow tests are commonly used to detect the virus that causes Covid-19. They detect the virus present in the respiratory tracts of people with the infection. Despite the widespread use of lateral flow tests, we lack information on which respiratory tract site is the best (optimum) site for lateral flow tests to pick up the virus. There have been comparative studies examining pick-up rates by PCR (which detects the virus RNA) from swabs obtained from various respiratory sites, such as nasal, nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and saliva. Very few comparative studies have been performed with lateral flow tests, which detect virus proteins.\n\nMany manufacturers of lateral flow tests recommend swabbing of different respiratory sites in the Instructions for Use (IFUs). The Department of Health & Social Care recommends a combined oropharyngeal (throat) and nasal (nose) swab, but the evidence for this is likely to be extrapolated from PCR data stated above. The US FDA recommends swabbing of the nose only, and recommends against performing throat swabs. There is, however, emerging evidence that Omicron variant (the predominant global variant) first appears in the throat before the nose, so detecting the virus earlier from the throat may be advantageous. Sore throat is an early and prominent symptoms of Omicron, providing further evidence that replication occurs in the throat. Cases have been reported where the Omicron viral load peaked in saliva 1-2 days before nasal PCR tests.\n\nThis study aims to determine whether the throat or the nose is the better site for swabbing to enable optimum detection of SARS-CoV-2 using a lateral flow test (Rapid SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test Card, MP Biomedicals).
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SW/0086
Date of REC Opinion
6 Dec 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion