Saliva Samples Are the Future of COVID-19 Testing

It has been over a year since sample collection for COVID-19 diagnostic testing began. Researchers, diagnostics labs, test kit providers, and clinical test manufacturers have been working endlessly to find scalable solutions to identify and sequence SARS-CoV-2 that are efficient, reliable, and scalable.

Initially, COVID-19 sample collection focused mainly on the use of nasopharyngeal swabs, requiring trained personnel and an invasive procedure. In 2020, as sample collection expanded to include self-collected saliva, the U.S. FDA authorized the use of DNA Genotek's OMNIgene®•ORAL as part of a COVID-19 test kit. Since then, OMNIgene®•ORAL has been added to various diagnostic workflows and Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs), including at-home saliva collection for SARS-CoV-2 detection and COVID-19 mass testing in schools through campus-wide sample pooling programs.

The chemistry, sealed behind a plastic film within the funnel lid of the OMNIgene®•ORAL device, immediately stabilizes the SARS-CoV-2 RNA molecules within the donor’s saliva at room temperature once the cap has been closed and the chemistry is released. The collection process is simply "spit and cap"—followed by inverting the tube to ensure sample mixture. 

This patented design enables fast, easy collection, prevents donor interaction with the stabilization chemistry, and greatly reduces human error—allowing the collection process to occur anywhere and be carried out by anyone who can independently spit, without supervision by trained personnel.

Download this white paper to learn more about OMNIgene®•ORAL kits, including: 

• Scaling COVID-19 testing for population screening and back-to-work programs
• The stability of SARS-CoV-2 within OMNIgene®•ORAL
• The kit's compatibility with RT-qPCR assays and extraction kits
• Alternate workflows for viral RNA preparation

DNA Genotek offers complimentary OMNIgene®•ORAL kits for laboratory viral detection assay evaluation purposes. Click here to make a request. 

Moving forward with COVID-19: Trends and challenges in molecular testing

In the below webinar, Dr. Rafal Iwasiow and Scott Rabuka provide examples of collection solutions and testing strategies being deployed for COVID-19 detection and insights into the future of testing and surveillance as we navigate SARS-CoV-2 variants and the deployment of vaccines.

With the increasing number of EUAs from the FDA and adoption of OMNIgene®•ORAL by federal government health agencies and labs around the world, saliva samples are recognized as a scalable and practical collection method for COVID-19 diagnostic testing and research.