Self-collected saliva and courier service –
a feasible diagnostic strategy for COVID-19
Farisa Banu Sanaulla1, Lina Maria Marin1, Sreenath Madathil2 , Carlos R. Quiñonez3, Mary McNally4, Michael Glogauer3, Paul Allison2, Walter L. Siqueira1
1. College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK; 2. Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC; 3. Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON;
4. Faculty of Dentistry, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Introduction
Introduction
Saliva has been proposed as a convenient
and cost-effective biofluid for diagnostic
purposes. In vitro studies have shown that
the addition of stabilizers to saliva preserves
it for up to 7-10 days at RT, but its
translational application has never been
tested.
Objective
To test the feasibility of saliva self-collection
and largescale mailing to a laboratory for
further analysis in a sample of subjects
distributed widely across Canada.
Materials and Methods
Materials and Methods
Monthly saliva self-collection
• 1.5 mL saliva + 0.5 mL RNAlater
• Shipped to the Salivary Proteomics
Research Lab (USask)
Participants perception
Results
Samples received at the lab: 903
• Baseline: 223
• 1st follow-up: 222
• 2nd follow-up: 220
• 3rd follow-up: 217
Samples received after:
3.1 days (± 2.3) of collection
Prospective
Cohort
Study
Licensed
Canadian
dentists
(n=224)
Samples recollected: 22
• Broken during transportation: 13
• Inadequate volume of saliva: 9
Conclusions
1. The results of this ongoing study
demonstrate the feasibility of saliva selfcollection and mailing from multiple
distant areas of Canada to a laboratory for
valid analyses.
2. Other than the broken or inadequate
volume samples, all were viable for
analyses.
3. Based on our knowledge, this is the
first study dealing with a large-scale
saliva collection and shipping
protocol.
4. This approach represents an
important
strategy
for
the
development of timely salivary
diagnostic platforms.
Acknowledgments
Volume of saliva received:
1.66 mL (± 0.15)
Saliva collection kits
(12/participant)
• Super•SAL2™ Collection Kit
with RNAlater
• SPECI-GARD Specimen Bag
• Instructions for saliva
collection
• Prepaid FedEx Clinical Pak®
Participants perception about saliva
collection procedure:
ü Easy
ü Painless
ü Convenient
ü Completed in less than 5 minutes
Grant: 172757