Screening test for COVID-19 in dental practice: Best options
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Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Nasal Brushing Sampling and Processing Using Digital High Speed Ciliary Videomicroscopy – Adaptation for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Published on: November 7, 2020
Sandra López-Verdín1, José R Prieto-Correa2, Nelly Molina-Frechero3
1Health Science University Center, Institute for Dental Research, University of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, patologiabucal@live.com.mx.
Purpose:
To review diverse tests that could serve as a screening tool for the dental community to identify patients with potential COVID-19.
Methods:
Detailed automated searches of Medline, PubMed and EBM Review, including ACP Journal Club, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews of Effectiveness from 2019 to 2020 were conducted. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or quantitative (q) RT-PCR and Western blot assays were excluded.
Results:
Real time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) and Real time recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RAP) are the most promising methodologies developed as screening tools, and could be a screening test option in dental practice to identify patients potentially carrying SARS-CoV-2 and to prevent cross-infection between patients and dental personnel.
Clinical Significance:
Biological risk management in the dental clinic is primarily focused on the wearing of protective equipment by dental personnel and disinfection/sterilization procedures for surfaces. With the absence of suitable antiviral drugs or vaccines, simple, rapid, and reliable detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could be critical for preventing the spread of infection in dental practices.
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