Table 5:

Impact of collection order on the analytical performance for assessed sample collection techniques

			Mean Ct
			RNase P	E gene	RdRP gene
NP	SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens	NP -> TN -> SG	29.49	19.12	19.45
		TN -> NP -> SG	30.02	20.09	20.39
		P value	0.107	0.266	0.256
	All	NP -> TN -> SG	29.69	N.A.	N.A.
		TN -> NP -> SG	29.92	N.A.	N.A.
		P value	0.307	N.A.	N.A.
SG	SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens	NP -> TN -> SG	28.72	24.51	24.71
		TN -> NP -> SG	28.59	23.68	23.96
		P value	0.638	0.252	0.276
	All	NP -> TN -> SG	28.62	N.A.	N.A.
		TN -> NP -> SG	28.81	N.A.	N.A.
		P value	0.324	N.A.	N.A.
TN	SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens	NP -> TN -> SG	30.72	21.56	21.84
		TN -> NP -> SG	30.28	21.51	21.83
		P value	0.711	0.941	0.989
	All	NP -> TN -> SG	30.69	N.A.	N.A.
		TN -> NP -> SG	30.61	N.A.	N.A.
		P value	0.753	N.A.	N.A.

Note: Buccal-bilateral nares collections are not captured in this table due to low sample sizes

NP = nasopharyngeal swab; SG = saline gargle; TN = throat-bilateral nares