Innovative Nasal Swab Test May Reduce Costs of Virus Screening in High-Risk Settings

The ongoing advancements in respiratory virus testing, especially highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, have revealed both progress and gaps in screening processes for high-risk environments such as healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and military or assisted living centers. Although PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests are considered the gold standard for detecting infections, their high costs and the necessity for distinct tests for different viruses limit mass screening capabilities.

Recent research from Yale University introduces a promising alternative: a simple nasal swab that assesses the body's immune response by detecting an antiviral protein, specifically CXCL10, produced in the nasal passages during infections. This biomarker-based screening can effectively identify individuals who are unlikely to be infected, thereby drastically reducing the number of costly PCR tests needed.

The study involved analyzing over 1,000 nasal swab samples from patients undergoing COVID-19 screening, including both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Results demonstrated that this less expensive test could potentially cut the need for PCR testing by over 90%, especially in populations with low virus prevalence such as healthcare workers or hospital staff.

This approach offers a practical solution for managing outbreaks efficiently by triaging who requires further confirmatory testing. As Ellen Foxman, an associate professor at Yale School of Medicine and senior author of the study, explains, "Implementing this biomarker screening could save significant resources and make routine screening in high-risk settings more feasible."

The innovative method also performs reliably across different ages, sexes, and demographics, although factors like immunosuppressive medication or very low viral loads can affect accuracy. The researchers highlight that during the early waves of COVID-19, application of such biomarker tests could have alleviated testing burdens, with costs making PCR tests 5 to 15 times more expensive.

Overall, this research paves the way for more affordable and efficient viral screening methods that could help prevent outbreaks in vulnerable settings and optimize resource allocation during pandemics or seasonal illnesses. The study is published in eBioMedicine and emphasizes the potential of nasal biomarker testing as a practical complement or alternative to traditional PCR diagnostics.