Scientific Publications Archives

Mass surveillance of SARS-COV-2 utilising self-collection swabs and high throughput laboratory techniques: An Australian case study of asymptomatic Year 12 students at the Qudos Bank Arena

A total of 15,519 participant performed self-collection of a novel nasal swab (Rhinoswab). They were subsequently tested on a mobile laboratory platform combining a liquid handler (Myra) with a thermocycler (micPCR) and SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR reagents. Roche Liat was implemented as a confirmation device. A survey of 2,533 participants revealed: 91% found self-collection easy to perform. … Read more

Collection by trained pediatricians or parents of mid-turbinate nasal flocked swabs for the detection of influenza viruses in childhood

This study evaluated the efficiency of pediatric mid-turbinate nasal flocked swabs used by parents in 203 children aged 6 months to 5 years with symptoms of respiratory disease. Two nasal samples were collected from each child in a randomised sequence: one by a trained pediatrician and one by a parent. The real-time polymerase chain reaction … Read more

Adequacy of nasal self-swabbing for SARS-COV-2 testing in children

The goal of this study was to characterize the ability of school-aged children to self-collect adequate anterior nares (AN) swabs for SARS-CoV-2 testing. 287 children aged 4-14 years-old, of whom 197 were symptomatic, watched a short instructional video before providing a self-collected anterior nares specimen. Health care workers (HCWs) then collected a second specimen, and … Read more

COVID-19 testing in kids: What concerns parents?

The Royal Children’s Hospital National Child Health Poll of 1434 parents who care for 2553 children, found a range of barriers which may impact on the willingness of parents to attend a testing clinic for their child. Of these parents, almost three quarters (74 per cent) were concerned the COVID-19 test might be stressful, painful or uncomfortable … Read more