Nasal vs. Saliva Swabbing — Which Is Most Effective?

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists and medical professionals have discovered several methods for identifying the novel coronavirus. Testing standards have gone through several phases throughout the pandemic.

Two of the most common testing methods are nasal and oral swabs.

Each method has its pros and cons, but is there a definitively most-effective option? Learn more here.

Nasopharyngeal Swabs

Nasopharyngeal (nasal) swabs are considered the most reliable for generating accurate results. This testing method was most common in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

During a nasal swab, a cotton swab is inserted through the nose to collect samples from your nasal cavity. You may have heard people describe their nasal swab experience with varying degrees of discomfort. There are a couple of types of nasal swabs with different levels of intrusiveness. 

Some nasal swabs take samples from the nasal walls of your nostril, while others collect samples from your
inner nasal cavity, the latter being more intrusive and accurate.

Oral (Saliva Testing)

Several kinds of oral testing methods are available to identify COVID-19. With an oral swab, you can collect samples in a process similar to that of a nasal swab. Healthcare workers will swab patients' mouths with a cotton swab to collect samples for testing. 

Saliva tests collect samples from the patient's saliva to be tested for COVID-19. In these tests, participants spit several times into collection devices and return them to the healthcare professional for testing. These samples are less intrusive than nasal and oral swabs and can produce results with similar levels of accuracy to nasal swabs.

Oral swabs and saliva tests can both be self-administered, reducing healthcare workers' exposure.

Which Is Best for COVID-19 Testing?

There are many factors to consider before determining the best testing method for COVID-19.

While nasal swabs taken from deep in the nasal cavity are the most accurate testing form, this procedure uses many resources. It also requires healthcare professionals to be close to the patient, increasing the risk of exposure. Additionally, this method is the most invasive.

Oral swabs and saliva testing are much less invasive. They can be self-administered by the patient, allowing the healthcare professional to maintain a safe distance throughout the process to avoid spreading the virus further.

Results from these tests are nearly as reliable as those from nasal swabs.

Buy Oral and Nasal Swabs From Mercedes Scientific

Mercedes Scientific has three decades of experience supplying the medical community with quality, lasting tools. We put our customers' needs first and strive to provide unmatched service with every transaction. 

Our highly skilled team of professionals is dedicated to providing a seamless customer experience and fast access to in-demand medical supplies. We can deliver bulk orders rapidly so that your medical community gets the tools it needs as fast as possible. 

At Mercedes Scientific, you can find a complete selection of exam room supplies, including swabs for oral and nasal COVID-19 testing. Contact us online today to learn more about how Mercedes Scientific can get you the tools your team needs to protect public health.