The performance of saliva specimens for the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 and a saliva pooling strategy as a diagnostic tool for epidemiological studies in current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Nasopharyngeal swabs are recommended for the molecular diagnosis of COVID-19 but offer disadvantages such as dire shortage. Therefore, we aim to validate saliva as an alternative specimen. We further plan to design a saliva pooling strategy as a part of a diagnostic tool for largescale
real-time epidemiological testing. Such strategy will be of value in the management of current pandemic.