Simple and low-cost nucleic acid extraction methods for detection of SARS-CoV2 in self-collected saliva and dry oral swabs.

: Ongoing need of alternative strategies for SARS-CoV-2 detection is undeniable. Self-collected samples without viral transport media (VTM), coupled with simple nucleic acid extraction methods for SARS-CoV-2 PCR are beneficial.: To evaluate results of SARS-CoV-2 PCR using simple nucleic acid extraction methods from self -collected saliva and oral swabs without VTM.: ross-sectional single-centre study was conducted on 125 participants (101 SARS-CoV-2 positive cases & 24 controls). PCR was performed following five simple nucleic acid extraction methods on self -collect saliva and oral swabs without VTM & results were compared with gold standard PCR. For saliva, kit-based extraction (SKE), Proteinase K & Heat extraction (SPHE), only Heat extraction (SHE) methods & for dry oral swabs, Proteinase K & Heat extraction (DPHE) & only Heat extraction (DHE) was performed.: SARS-CoV-2 was detected in self-collected saliva and oral swabs. 93.07% were correctly classified as positive by SKE, 69.31% by SHE, 67.33% by SPHE, 67.33% by DPHE and 55.45% by DHE. Discriminant power of SKE was significantly higher than other methods (p-value < 0.001) with good- fair agreement of alternate extraction methods against gold standard.: Combination of self-collected saliva/ oral-swab without VTM and alternative RNA extraction methods offer simplified, economical substitute strategy for SARS-CoV-2 detection.