At-home specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic testing requires a leap of faith, namely, that patients can do an adequate job of self-collecting the nasal and nasopharyngeal samples on which testing is performed. But a new study suggests this may not be all that big a leap of faith after all. The Diagnostic Challenge The most reliable and widespread method for detecting the SARS-CoV-2 virus is reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing performed on tissue samples collected from the patient’s nasal passages. The common consensus is that it takes a healthcare professional to perform this operation. However, there is a price to pay. In addition to tying down desperately needed trained laboratory personnel, relying on professionals to collect test samples: Directly exposes sample collectors to risk of contracting the virus from the patient; Requires them to utilize N95 masks and other precious personal protective equipment; and Requires patients to leave their homes and travel to a healthcare treatment or collection site. Will Self-Collection Yield Accurate Test Results? Home collection eliminates all of these problems. But it also carries a risk to the extent it is based on the premise that patients are actually capable of swabbing their own nostrils. The […]