Assessment of sample pooling for SARS-CoV-2 molecular testing for screening of asymptomatic persons in Tunisia

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Nov;98(3):115125. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2020.115125. Epub 2020 Jul 5.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to test a pooling approach for the RT-PCR test to detect low viral loads of SARS-CoV-2. We found that a single positive specimen can still be detected in pools of up to 10. Each laboratory should conduct its own evaluation and validation of pooling protocols according to its specific context.

Keywords: COVID-19; Group testing; SARS-CoV-2 Tunisia; Sample pooling.

MeSH terms

  • Betacoronavirus / genetics*
  • COVID-19
  • COVID-19 Testing
  • Clinical Laboratory Techniques / methods*
  • Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Mass Screening / methods*
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / diagnosis*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Specimen Handling
  • Tunisia
  • Viral Load / genetics

Substances

  • RNA, Viral