Gertler M, Krause E, van Loon W, et al. - The sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2-rtPCR applying three self-sampling techniques was compared with professional-collected oro-nasopharyngeal samples (cOP/NP). The following samples were collected from 62 COVID-19 outpatients: (i) multi-swab, MS; (ii) saliva sponge combined with nasal vestibula, SN; (iii) gargled water, GW; (iv) professionally-collected cOP/NP (standard). For E-gene and ORF1ab, the median ct-values retrieved in cOP/NP samples were 20.7 and 20.2, in MS samples were 22.6 and 21.8, in SN samples were 23.3 and 22.3, and in GW samples were 30.3 and 29.8, respectively. In symptomatic patients, Covid-19: Self-swabbing showed up to 95% sensitivity. Covid-19 – Self-swabbing: drop in sensitivity after day 8 of symptoms duration. Findings suggest association of self-swabbing with raised ct-values in SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR. Covid-19 – Self-swabbing: drop in sensitivity occurs with increasing procedural user errors. Inferences drawn on the basis of findings of this study were confined to the sensitivity of self-sampling in mildly to moderately symptomatic patients. Still, in early symptomatic COVID-19 patients, self-collected oral/nasal/saliva samples can aid in up-scaling the testing in case mitigation of operational errors is attained.