Table 3 SARS-CoV-2 testing preferences for DHCW and patient participants

Testing preference outcomes

DHCWs

N = 28

Patients

N = 41

Specimen preference (1 (most) to 6 (least preferred))

Median (IQR)

Median (IQR)

Saliva

1 (1–2)

2 (1–3)

Tongue epithelial cells

2 (1–3)

2 (1–3)

Nasal swab

2.5 (2–3)

2 (1–3)

Nasal pharyngeal swab

4 (4–4)

4 (3–5)

Finger stick

5 (5–5)

5 (4–5)

Venous

6 (6–6)

6 (6–6)

Testing protocol preference (1 (most) to 4 (least preferred))

Median (IQR)

Median (IQR)

Home test and mail to lab

2 (1–2.5)

1 (1–2)

POC in office

1.5 (1–3)

2 (1–3)

Specimen to dental office and then to Lab

2 (2–3)

3 (2–3)

Specimen to commercial lab

4 (3.5–4)

4 (4–4)

How safe do you think you would feel if…

Median (IQR)

Median (IQR)

All DHCW regularly test AND all patients tested prior to dental visit

85.5 (67–100)

97 (88–100)

Just DHWS are regularly tested

73.5 (50–88.5)

79 (65–97)

Just patients are regularly tested

54.5 (50–85)

55 (37–78)

Cost willing to pay for COVID test

Median (IQR)

Median (IQR)

DHCW testing

$10 ($0–$20)

n/a

Patient testing

$18 ($10–$36)

$15 ($9–$25)

Desired test specificity and sensitivity (scale 0 to 100)

Median (IQR)

Lowest acceptable sensitivity (limited to DMD/DDSs) N = 9

90 (89–98)

n/a

Lowest acceptable specificity (limited to DMD/DDSs) N = 9

90 (89–95)

n/a

If you had a choice which office would you prefer to go to:

N (%)

Where patients and staff are tested

n/a

31 (76%)

Does not make a difference if patients and staff are tested

n/a

10 (24%)

Patients and staff are NOT tested

n/a

0 (0%)

Testing process outcomes

PCR

POC

PCR

POC

Ease of performance

n = 15

N (%) Indicating Easy

n = 12

N (%) Indicating Easy

n = 22

N (%) Indicating Easy

n = 19

N (%) Indicating Easy

Collection of nasal specimen

n/a

10 (83%)

n/a

19 (100%)

Processing of nasal specimen

n/a

7 (58%)

n/a

n/a

Collection of saliva specimen

14 (93%)

n/a

21 (95%)

n/a

Preparing and packaging for shipment saliva specimen

14 (93%)

n/a

n/a

n/a

Collection of tongue specimen

14 (93%)

n/a

n/a

n/a

Preparing and packing for shipping tongue specimen

13 (87%)

n/a

n/a

n/a