Medical Information Only. Always consult your healthcare provider before enrolling in any clinical trial.
Saliva as Source of Detection for SARS-CoV-2
NCT04424446 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Background: Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabbing is being used to test for SARS-CoV-2 infection. For this, a swab is inserted deep into the back of the nose to collect a sample. It can cause discomfort for most people. Researchers want to find an easier way to collect samples. Objective: To learn if testing for SARSCoV-2 with a saliva sample only, a nasal swab from just the front part of the nostril only, or a saliva sample plus a nasal swab gives results that are as accurate as the NP swab. Eligibility: NIH staff members age 18 and older who are taking part in NIH CC SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Design: The Occupational Medical Service (OMS) collects NP swabs as part of standard NIH staff screening. Participants will give 1 or 2 saliva samples and 1 or 2 nasal swabs when their NP swab is collected by OMS. If their NP swab was already collected, their OMS record will be reviewed for the result. If the NP swab result is positive, the participant will have another NP swab. At that time, they will also give 1 or 2 saliva samples and 1 or 2 nasal swabs. If the NP swab result is negative, they will give 1 or 2 saliva samples and 1 or 2 nasal swabs the next time they have an NP swab. For the saliva sample, participants will spit into a tube. For the nasal swab, the inside of the front part of the nostril will be swabbed. Participation ends after the study samples are collected. Participants can choose to keep giving saliva and nasal swab samples each time they have an NP swab.
Conditions Studied
Study Locations (2)
District of Columbia
- Washington Hospital Center — Washington D.C.
Maryland
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 456 participants |
| Start Date | 2020-07-13 |
| Est. Completion | 2020-09-04 |
Interested in This Trial?
Always speak with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.
Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT04424446
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT04424446 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as an unspecified phase, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 456 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC), which has 209 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with COVID-19 appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 0 interventions. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT04424446 reports 2 study locations spanning 2 distinct geographic areas — top geographies include District of Columbia, Maryland. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT04424446 about?
NCT04424446 is a clinical study titled "Saliva as Source of Detection for SARS-CoV-2". Background: Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabbing is being used to test for SARS-CoV-2 infection. For this, a swab is inserted deep into the back of the nose to collect a sample. It can cause discomfort for most people. Researchers want to find an easier way to collect samples. Objective: To learn if test...
What is the current status of trial NCT04424446?
This trial is currently completed. The enrollment target is 456 participants. The study started on 2020-07-13. Estimated completion is 2020-09-04.
What conditions does trial NCT04424446 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: COVID-19. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT04424446?
This trial is sponsored by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC), which has 209 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT04424446 being conducted?
This trial has 2 study locations across District of Columbia, Maryland. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
Learn More About Clinical Trials
How Clinical Trials Work
Understand phases 1-4, trial design, randomization, and the informed consent process.
Patient Rights in Clinical Trials
Your rights as a participant: consent, withdrawal, privacy, and who to contact.
Finding the Right Clinical Trial
A practical guide to searching trials, understanding eligibility, and evaluating options.
All Guides
Browse our complete library of clinical trial educational resources.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.