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

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

Salma Abid  1 , Sana Ferjani  2 , Awatef El Moussi  1 , Asma Ferjani  1 , Mejda Nasr  3 , Ichrak Landolsi  3 , Karima Saidi  3 , Hanène Gharbi  3 , Hajer Letaief  4 , Aicha Hechaichi  4 , Mouna Safer  4 , Nissaf Bouafif Ep Ben Alaya  4 , Ilhem Boutiba-Ben Boubaker  1
Affiliations

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

Salma Abid et al. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Nov.

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.

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