Conjunctiva-Upper Respiratory Tract Irrigation for Early Diagnosis of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome

Abstract

We devised a method for self-obtaining nasopharyngeal specimens. Patients were given detailed written or verbal instructions. Materials included a 5-ml syringe filled with injectable normal saline, a specimen container, and facial tissues. The process involved the application of normal saline eye drops and expectoration of irrigate that ran into the throat.