Comparison Between Different Sampling Sites for Detection of Respiratory Viruses

Comparison Between Nasopharynx and Orobuccal/Nasal Swabs or Saliva for Detection of Respiratory Viruses (ORASAMP)

The goal of this observational study is to validate the use of less invasive samples (saliva, orobuccal or nasal swabs) than nasopharyngeal swab for testing common and clinically relevant respiratory viruses in children and adults presenting to an emergency departements with symptoms compatible with respiratory tract infection. The main question it aims to answer is:

- Is the precision of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for Influenzavirus A or B, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and Rhinovirus, on saliva, orobuccal swabs and nasal swabs comparable to the gold standard nasopharyngeal swab in a pediatric and adult population presenting with symptoms compatible with respiratory tract infection.

Among participants the following samples will be collected (nasopharyngeal swab is standard of care and not part of the study samples):

• Saliva
• Orobuccal swab
• Nasal swab

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients presenting at the emergency departments or hospitalized at Inselspital Bern university hospital with any symptom compatible with an acute respiratory tract infection in whom a nasopharyngeal swab to test for respiratory viruses is performed (standard of care)
• Written informed consent from the trial subject has been obtained; for patients aged 0-13 years, or not able to provide informed consent, consent obtained from the legal representative; for patients between 14-18 years, written informed consent obtained from the respective patient as well as the legal representative.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients unable to provide a saliva (e.g. patients with reduced level of consciousness). Children too young to be instructed to provide saliva are not excluded, but saliva won't be collected.
• Patients with swallowing disturbances
• Patient's lack of accountability and inability to appreciate the nature, meaning and consequences of the study and to formulate his/her own wishes correspondingly AND legal representative not available.