Conclusions
Saliva may be a viable alternative to nasopharyngeal specimen collection
for COVID-19 testing. Further studies are needed to investigate the
efficacy, feasibility and scalability of using salivary specimens for
SARS-CoV-2 detection and surveillance on a nationwide basis. It is
imperative that OHCP stay abreast of the latest developments surrounding
the pandemic, follow guidelines from the CDC, ADA, the federal and state
governments, and make informed decisions regarding clinical care.
Telemedicine efforts can be an excellent adjunct in triaging patients
and determining urgency of need.