Danish citizens’ preferences for at-home oropharyngeal/nasal SARS-CoV-2 specimen collection

Abstract

Summary: Introduction: Diagnostic confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 by self-collection of specimens is a reliable method compared with healthcare worker collected samples. Citizens’ preferences for collection methods are unknown, but at-home collection could have several advantages. Methods: This study investigated the preference for guided at-home self-collection versus at-hospital specimen collection by healthcare workers. Results: Among the 3709 participants, at-home swab collection was the preferred setting for 2362 (63.7%) compared with 1347 (36.3%) reporting a preference for an at-hospital swabbing procedure. Conclusion: A high preference for guided at-home self-collection of oropharyngeal/nasal SARS-CoV-2 specimens exists and could be a future norm beyond COVID-19.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Diagnostics
• Self-collection
• Oropharyngeal/nasal swab
• SARS-CoV-2
• Patient-reported