introduction WHO reference standard for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis is RT-PCR using DNA extracted from nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) or oropharyngeal swab (OPS) . There is limited vigorous evidence for the use of saliva in SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis . Aim To validate the diagnostic accuracy of whole saliva-derived DNA for PCR-based methods in the detection of SARS-CoV-2. Methodology 12 adults comprising of 7 RT-PCR confirmed COVID-19 subjects and 5 Person Under Investigation (PUI) as negative controls were recruited. Early morning fresh drooled saliva was collected into: a. Sterile plastic container (2mls) b. GeneFiX saliva container (2mls). NPS taken from each subject in the same setting for diagnostic comparison (Figure 1). Samples were triple packaged and processed for viral titres within 6 hours at an accredited laboratory. Results The mean age was 31.83 ± 10.37 years. Half were asymptomatic and almost all (91.7%) had significant travelling history. Median days of illness was 0.5 days (IQR=5) and all were recruited within a median of 3 days (IQR=11) of admission (Table 1). Margin of difference in Ct. values between the two saliva collection methods was small (Table 2). There was good concordance among the 3 types of samples when taken during the early course of illness (Table 3). However, NPS gave a lower Ct. value between the three collection methods in both E and N2 genes. Discussion / Conclusion RT-PCR diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 using fresh drooled saliva is both sensitive and specific as the virus is also shed in saliva. Saliva can serve as an alternative specimen for detecting SARS-CoV-2. Further validation using larger samples of COVID-19 subjects is necessary to support fresh saliva as a preferred non-invasive standard for COVID-19.