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Evaluating the efficiency of specimen pooling for PCR‐based detection of COVID‐19
Author(s) -
Wacharapluesadee Supaporn,
Kaewpom Thongchai,
Ampoot Weenassarin,
Ghai Siriporn,
Khamhang Worrawat,
Worachotsueptrakun Kanthita,
Wanthong Phanni,
Nopvichai Chatchai,
Supharatpariyakorn Thirawat,
Putcharoen Opass,
Paitoonpong Leilani,
Suwanpimolkul Gompol,
Jantarabenjakul Watsamon,
Hemachudha Pasin,
Krichphiphat Artit,
Buathong Rome,
Plipat Tanarak,
Hemachudha Thiravat
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.26005
Subject(s) - pooling , virology , viral load , personal protective equipment , covid-19 , population , pandemic , medicine , virus , environmental health , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , computer science , artificial intelligence
In the age of a pandemic, such as the ongoing one caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), the world faces a limited supply of tests, personal protective equipment, and factories and supply chains are struggling to meet the growing demands. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of specimen pooling for testing of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, to determine whether costs and resource savings could be achieved without impacting the sensitivity of the testing. Ten previously tested nasopharyngeal and throat swab specimens by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were pooled for testing, containing either one or two known positive specimens of varying viral concentrations. Specimen pooling did not affect the sensitivity of detecting SARS‐CoV‐2 when the PCR cycle threshold (Ct) of original specimen was lower than 35. In specimens with low viral load (Ct > 35), 2 of 15 pools (13.3%) were false negative. Pooling specimens to test for Coronavirus Disease 2019 infection in low prevalence (≤1%) areas or in low risk populations can dramatically decrease the resource burden on laboratory operations by up to 80%. This paves the way for large‐scale population screening, allowing for assured policy decisions by governmental bodies to ease lockdown restrictions in areas with a low incidence of infection, or with lower‐risk populations.