It is an instrument of torture that one would have liked never to know. But here it is, the Covid-19 pandemic has been there and we had to resolve to have our noses picked out to find out whether or not we were carrying the virus. With as a gift the unpleasant rise of the swab in our nostrils. Unless you are a little masochistic, no one jumps for joy at the idea of carrying out a PCR test and facing this long cotton swab.
But this ordeal could soon be a distant memory. Head of the virology department at the University Hospital of Rennes, Professor Vincent Thibault has just demonstrated that it is possible to detect respiratory viruses on used handkerchiefs. In other words, there is no longer any need for a swab to screen for viral genomes. “We’re not there yet, but it’s a first step forward,” says the researcher. It was his passion for forensic science that led him to launch his work in 2018. “I am fascinated by the fact that investigators manage to detect DNA fragments on samples that are several years old,” says- does he
More accurate than a PCR test
Starting from there, Vincent Thibault therefore wondered if it was possible to detect viruses on used handkerchiefs. To find out, he first picked the pockets of his relatives to build up a small stock of handkerchiefs which he then analyzed. “Each time, I managed to detect viruses on the handkerchiefs,” he says. The researcher then continued the experiment for a year with the CHU crèche and a primary school. “I went every week to collect my used tissues by bike,” he laughs.
And here again, the results of his analyzes were convincing. Ditto with a group of volunteers with Covid-19. “All the handkerchiefs of these people made it possible to detect the virus and in two thirds of the cases, more clearly than a PCR test”, indicates the researcher. His study put on hold with the health crisis, the results have just been published last month in the american scientific journal Emerging Infectious Diseases. “This proves the seriousness of my approach”, welcomes Professor Vincent Thibault.
Larger-scale test planned
Once the patent has been filed, he will now focus on finding funding and partners to conduct a test on a larger scale. “We must optimize the technique of harvesting and analyzing tissues to make it industrial,” says the professor. If the results are confirmed, his approach could then be put into practice. And thus seal the fate of the swabs.
“It is sure that it is never very pleasant for the patient, he admits. The advantage of the handkerchief is also that you avoid exposing health professionals to the virus because you only have to blow your nose at home and send your handkerchief by mail for analysis. Eventually, Vincent Thibault would also like his discovery to reduce the consumption of antibiotics “which are ineffective against viruses. »