An experimental design and statistical analysis providing information on the reliability of pooled test procedures is described. It involves estimating the relationship between the probability of a positive pooled test result (dependent variable) and the expected number of infected individuals in a pool (explanatory variable). The intercept is an estimate of the proportion of false positives (1-pooled specificity) and pooled sensitivities can be estimated for indicative prevalences of infected individuals. Simulations for a theoretical infection are used to investigate the advantages and limitations of the approach. The approach is used to evaluate the reliability of a virus isolation and qRT-PCR test procedure detecting Salmonid alphavirus the pathogenic agent necessary for the development of Pancreas Disease in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).
Keywords: Pancreas Disease; Pools; Quantitative real-time polymerase chain-reaction; Salmonid alphavirus; Virus isolation.
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