Highlights Saliva has been recommended as an alternative sample for detection of SARS CoV-2 infection, but data are limited. In this study, SARS CoV-2 was detected by RT-PCR in 35 of 124 patients, 30 (85.7 %) by saliva and 33 (94.3 %) by NP swab. The median cycle threshold value was significantly lower for NPS than for saliva. A third of pure saliva samples were difficult to pipet, which slowed processing.