April 7, 2020

Sample Pooling as a Strategy to Detect Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Testing and Treatment

• The authors used sampled pooling, a strategy used for community monitoring of other infectious diseases, in this retrospective study to increase overall testing efficiency at an expected slight loss of sensitivity. 
• 292 pools were screened, corresponding with 2740 nasopharyngeal samples and 148 bronchoalveolar lavage samples, collected from inpatients and outpatients between Jan 1-Feb 26 in the San Francisco Bay area. Results suggest that pooled screening may facilitate detection of early community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and enable timely implementation of appropriate infection control measures to reduce spread. 

Hogan et al. (Apr 6, 2020). Sample Pooling as a Strategy to Detect Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2. JAMA. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2764364