A Comparison Efficacy Study of Commercial Nasopharyngeal Swabs versus a Novel 3D Printed Swab for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2

Authors

Forest W. Arnold, University of LouisvilleFollow
Gerald Grant, University of LouisvilleFollow
Phillip F. Bressoud, University of LouisvilleFollow
Stephen P. Furmanek, University of LouisvilleFollow
Donghoon Chung, University of LouisvilleFollow
Nadine Sbaih, University of LouisvilleFollow
Dipan Karmali, University of LouisvilleFollow
Meredith Cahill, University of LouisvilleFollow
George Pantalos, University of LouisvilleFollow

20.0334

Funder

The authors received no specific funding for this work

Abstract

Introduction: The large volume of diagnostic tests required by the response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a shortage of commercial nasopharyngeal swabs. In an effort to alleviate the shortage, swabs created by 3D printing may be a solution.

Methods: We designed and produced 3D printed swabs and sought to compare their ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in patients admitted for COVID-19 or who were suspected of having COVID-19.

Results: A total of 30 patients were swabbed with a commercial and a 3D printed swab. Results matched in 27 of 30 patients (90%). Two patients were discordant with a positive commercial swab and a negative 3D printed swab and another was discordant because the 3D printed swab was positive and the commercial swab was negative. The sensitivity was 89%, specificity was 92% and Cohen’s kappa coefficient was 0.80.

Conclusion: The 3D printed swabs performed acceptably compared to the commercial swab and may be considered for use in lieu of a commercial swab.

DOI

10.18297/jri/vol4/iss1/41

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Arnold, Forest W.; Grant, Gerald; Bressoud, Phillip F.; Furmanek, Stephen P.; Chung, Donghoon; Sbaih, Nadine; Karmali, Dipan; Cahill, Meredith; and Pantalos, George (2020) "A Comparison Efficacy Study of Commercial Nasopharyngeal Swabs versus a Novel 3D Printed Swab for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2," The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections: Vol. 4 : Iss. 1 , Article 41.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18297/jri/vol4/iss1/41
Available at: https://ir.library.louisville.edu/jri/vol4/iss1/41