{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,3]],"date-time":"2026-07-03T01:11:45Z","timestamp":1783041105929,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":59,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,20]],"date-time":"2021-11-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1637366400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Pathogens"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Nasal pathogen detection sensitivities can be as low as 70% despite advances in molecular diagnostics. This may be linked to the choice of sampling method. A diagnostic test accuracy review for sensitivity was undertaken to compare sensitivity of swabbing to the nasopharynx and extracting nasal aspirates, using the PRISMA protocol, Cochrane rapid review methodology, and QUADAS-2 risk of bias tools, with meta-analysis of included studies. Sensitivities were calculated by a consensus standard of positivity by either method as the \u2018gold standard.\u2019 Insufficient sampling methodology, cross sectional study designs, and studies pooling samples across anatomical sites were excluded. Of 13 subsequently eligible studies, 8 had \u2018high\u2019 risk of bias, and 5 had \u2018high\u2019 applicability concerns. There were no statistical differences in overall sensitivities between collection methods for eight different viruses, and this did not differ with use of PCR, immunofluorescence, or culture. In one study alone, Influenza H1N1(2009) favored nasopharyngeal swabs, with aspirates having 93.3% of the sensitivity of swabs (p &gt; 0.001). Similarly equivocal sensitivities were noted in reports detecting bacteria. The chain of sampling, from anatomical site to laboratory results, features different potential foci along which sensitivity may be lost. A fair body of evidence exists that use of a different sampling method will not yield more respiratory pathogens.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/pathogens10111515","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,21]],"date-time":"2021-11-21T21:00:50Z","timestamp":1637528450000},"page":"1515","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":11,"title":["Nasopharyngeal Swabs vs. Nasal Aspirates for Respiratory Virus Detection: A Systematic Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"10","author":[{"given":"Matthew F.","family":"Flynn","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK"},{"name":"Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Glenshane Road, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1462-815X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martin","family":"Kelly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Altnagelvin Area Hospital, Glenshane Road, Londonderry BT47 6SB, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9459-5572","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"James S. G.","family":"Dooley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Cromore Road, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,11,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021, November 10). Information on Rapid Molecular Assays, RT-PCR, and Other Molecular Assays for Diagnosis of Influenza Virus Infection, Available online: https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/flu\/professionals\/diagnosis\/molecular-assays.htm."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2020). Surveillance Strategies for COVID-19 Human Infection: Interim Guidance, World Health Organization.","DOI":"10.15557\/PiMR.2020.0006"},{"key":"ref_3","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2005). 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