Easy access to screening for timely identification and isolation of infectious COVID-19 patients remains crucial in sustaining the international efforts to control COVID-19 spread. A major barrier limiting broad-based screening is the lack of a simple, rapid, and cost-effective COVID-19 testing method. We evaluated the feasibility and utility of facemask sampling in a cohort of 42 COVID-19-positive and 36 COVID-19-negative patients. We used a prototype of Steri-Strips™ (3 M) applied to the inner surface of looped surgical facemasks (Assure), which was worn by patients for a minimum wear time of 3 h, then removed and sent for SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing. Baseline demographics and symptomatology were also collected. Facemask sampling positivity was highest within the first 5 days of symptomatic presentation. Patients with nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal swab SARS-CoV-2 PCR Ct values < 25.09 had SARS-CoV-2 detected on facemask sampling, while patients with Ct values ≥ 25.2 had no SARS-CoV-2 detected on facemask sampling. Facemask sampling can identify patients with COVID-19 during the early symptomatic phase or those with high viral loads, hence allowing timely identification and isolation of those with the highest transmission risk. Given the widespread use of facemasks, this method can potentially be easily applied to achieve broad-based, or even continuous, population screening.

轻松获得筛查以及时识别和隔离传染性 COVID-19 患者对于维持控制 COVID-19 传播的国际努力仍然至关重要。限制广泛筛查的一个主要障碍是缺乏简单、快速且具有成本效益的 COVID-19 检测方法。我们在一组 42 名 COVID-19 阳性和 36 名 COVID-19 阴性患者中评估了面罩采样的可行性和实用性。我们将 Steri-Strips™ (3 M) 原型应用于环状外科口罩 (Assure) 的内表面，患者佩戴该口罩至少 3 小时，然后将其取下并送往 SARS-CoV-2 PCR检测。还收集了基线人口统计学和症状学。在出现症状的前 5 天内，面罩采样阳性率最高。鼻咽和/或口咽拭子 SARS-CoV-2 PCR Ct 值 < 25.09 的患者在面罩采样中检测到 SARS-CoV-2，而 Ct 值 ≥ 25.2 的患者在面罩采样中未检测到 SARS-CoV-2。口罩采样可以在症状早期识别 COVID-19 患者或病毒载量高的患者，从而及时识别和隔离传播风险最高的患者。鉴于口罩的广泛使用，这种方法可以很容易地应用于实现基础广泛甚至连续的人群筛查。口罩采样可以在症状早期识别 COVID-19 患者或病毒载量高的患者，从而及时识别和隔离传播风险最高的患者。鉴于口罩的广泛使用，这种方法可以很容易地应用于实现基础广泛甚至连续的人群筛查。口罩采样可以在症状早期识别 COVID-19 患者或病毒载量高的患者，从而及时识别和隔离传播风险最高的患者。鉴于口罩的广泛使用，这种方法可以很容易地应用于实现基础广泛甚至连续的人群筛查。