Swish and gargle saliva sampling is a patient-friendly and comparable alternative to nasopharyngeal swabs to detect SARS-CoV-2 in outpatient settings for adults and children.

Widespread and frequent testing for COVID-19 was an important strategy to identify infected patients to isolate and control the spread of the disease during the pandemic. The nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) global supply chain and access to trained healthcare professionals for standard NPS collection were often compromised. Patient discomfort and limited access challenged health systems to reach large numbers for testing in adult and pediatric populations.