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Oral Cavity: A Potential Repository for Early Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Asymptomatic Carriers

Anmol Agarwal, Gaurav Mittal, Payal Agarwal, Shimona Raj Mittal

The present outbreak of the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global health emergency. The major reason of concern amongst the health authorities is the early detection and effective isolation of the patients as the present disease is quite similar in initial clinical presentation to the old common flu. Presently, Real Time reverse transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR) is considered to be the gold standard to detect the causative virus, SARS-Cov-2, but its time consuming and poses the risk of further spread meanwhile, to the exposed people especially healthcare workers. Therefore globally, social distancing is the only mode identified to prevent the spread of the disease and keep isolating people who present with clinical symptoms, screen them and act accordingly. However asymptomatic carriers are the next point of worry and demands mass screening which is not possible with rRT-PCR per se. Researchers are trying to establish a way out for detecting the SARS-Cov-2 virus in the asymptomatic carriers or in patients who are under incubation period, thereby eradicating the spread of disease and flatten the curve of virus multiplication. As reported in the literature salivary analysis was found promising in early detection of a similar virus during SARS outbreak. This article is an attempt to emphasize on the fact that oral cavity can be a potential reservoir of SARSCoV- 2 both in the incubation phase and or convalescence period due to its anatomical relation with the salivary glands, naso-oro-pharynx, and the mucosa which are ultimately flooded with saliva. Saliva samples are simple to collect and probably makes it an ideal tool for mass screening, thereby facilitating early detection and prevention of further spread of the deadly pandemic.