 This review analyzed the diagnostic performance of clinical samples for COVID-19 detection by RT-PCR through a systematic literature review process, finding that nasopharyngeal swabs, NPS, had relatively better sensitivity but not specificity compared to other clinical specimens. The meta-analysis indicated better pooled sensitivity with NPS than saliva and was comparable with the combined NPS slash oropharyngeal swab, OPS. However, specificity was observed to be better with saliva than the combined NPS slash OPS and NPS. Other parameters were comparable among different samples. The respiratory samples and throat samples showed a promising result relative to other specimens. Head-to-head comparisons between the different samples and the time of sample collection are warranted to strengthen this evidence. This article was authored by Khaled Sadeq Ali al-Shabari, Haider Abdullah Tifmousa, Muhammad Abdullah al-Khumbar, and others. We are article.tv, links in the description below.