Presenter Status
Resident/Psychology Intern
Abstract Type
Research
Primary Mentor
Dr. Jennifer Goldman
Start Date
16-5-2025 11:30 AM
End Date
16-5-2025 1:30 PM
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Description
Background: Respiratory viruses are a significant cause of pediatric illness and healthcare utilization. Diagnostic testing for respiratory viruses is generally performed using nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens obtained by trained staff, limiting testing to medical settings. Evaluating additional sampling methods in children that are easier to collect and can be performed outside of medical settings, such as anterior nasal swab (NS) specimens may expand access to diagnostic testing and aid public health surveillance.
Methods: Eligible children hospitalized at Children’s Mercy Hospital who had a standard of care NP specimen collected for respiratory viral testing were enrolled. Research NS specimens were obtained through self, caregiver, or staff collection. Specimens were tested on QIAstat-Dx-Analzyer using QIAstatDx Respiratory SARS-Cov-2 Panel. Statistical analysis for sensitivity with 95% confidence intervals was calculated with NP as the gold standard. Further sub-analysis evaluating time to NS collection and test results (NP specimens as time zero and NS specimens grouped from 0-24 hours, 25-48 hours, and 49 hours) was performed. Paired NP and NS specimens with either the same virus(es) detected or no viruses detected were considered concordant. Specimens with multiple viruses detected on NP but only a single virus detected on NS, or vice versa, were considered partially concordant. Specimens with one virus detected on NP or NS and none detected on its pair were considered discordant.
Results: One hundred and forty-seven paired NP and NS specimens were included. Of the 147 pairs, 114 (77.5%) had complete concordance – 86 (58.5%) had viruses detected and 28 (19%) had no viruses detected. Thirteen (8.8%) pairs were partially concordant, and 20 (14%) were discordant. Sensitivity of NS specimens was highest when collected within 24 hours of their NP pair (95.7%). There was variation between virus types with seasonal coronavirus having the lowest sensitivity, and sensitivities decreased slightly with increased time between NP and NS collection, but overall remained high (80%) (Table 1).
Conclusion: Overall, NS are a potential alternative method for respiratory virus detection in the pediatric population. This less invasive collection method allows for broader use outside of medical settings, including respiratory virus surveillance in community settings. Future studies with closely time-matched NS and NP collection are needed to evaluate individual virus type detections.
Included in
Infectious Disease Commons, Other Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons, Pediatrics Commons, Virology Commons
Viral Detection in Anterior Nasal Swabs Versus Nasopharyngeal Swabs in Children
Background: Respiratory viruses are a significant cause of pediatric illness and healthcare utilization. Diagnostic testing for respiratory viruses is generally performed using nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens obtained by trained staff, limiting testing to medical settings. Evaluating additional sampling methods in children that are easier to collect and can be performed outside of medical settings, such as anterior nasal swab (NS) specimens may expand access to diagnostic testing and aid public health surveillance.
Methods: Eligible children hospitalized at Children’s Mercy Hospital who had a standard of care NP specimen collected for respiratory viral testing were enrolled. Research NS specimens were obtained through self, caregiver, or staff collection. Specimens were tested on QIAstat-Dx-Analzyer using QIAstatDx Respiratory SARS-Cov-2 Panel. Statistical analysis for sensitivity with 95% confidence intervals was calculated with NP as the gold standard. Further sub-analysis evaluating time to NS collection and test results (NP specimens as time zero and NS specimens grouped from 0-24 hours, 25-48 hours, and 49 hours) was performed. Paired NP and NS specimens with either the same virus(es) detected or no viruses detected were considered concordant. Specimens with multiple viruses detected on NP but only a single virus detected on NS, or vice versa, were considered partially concordant. Specimens with one virus detected on NP or NS and none detected on its pair were considered discordant.
Results: One hundred and forty-seven paired NP and NS specimens were included. Of the 147 pairs, 114 (77.5%) had complete concordance – 86 (58.5%) had viruses detected and 28 (19%) had no viruses detected. Thirteen (8.8%) pairs were partially concordant, and 20 (14%) were discordant. Sensitivity of NS specimens was highest when collected within 24 hours of their NP pair (95.7%). There was variation between virus types with seasonal coronavirus having the lowest sensitivity, and sensitivities decreased slightly with increased time between NP and NS collection, but overall remained high (80%) (Table 1).
Conclusion: Overall, NS are a potential alternative method for respiratory virus detection in the pediatric population. This less invasive collection method allows for broader use outside of medical settings, including respiratory virus surveillance in community settings. Future studies with closely time-matched NS and NP collection are needed to evaluate individual virus type detections.
