Objectives: To report our institutional experience in devising and implementing a pooling protocol and process for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing over a 3-month period in the fall of 2020. Methods: The widespread testing implemented in the United States for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has led to a significant shortage of testing supplies and therefore has become a major impediment to the public health response. To date, several institutions have implemented sample pooling, but publications documenting these experiences are sparse. Nasal and nasopharyngeal samples collected from low-positivity (<5%) areas were tested in pools of five on the Roche cobas 6800 analyzer system. Routine SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR turnaround times between sample collection to result reporting were monitored and compared before and after sample pooling implementation. Results: A total of 4,131 sample pools were tested over a 3-month period (during which 39,770 RT-PCR results were reported from the Roche system), allowing our laboratory to save 13,824 tests, equivalent to a conservation rate of 35%. A 48-hour or less turnaround time was generally maintained throughout the pooling period. Conclusions: Sample pooling offers a viable means to mitigate shortfalls of PCR testing supplies in the ongoing pandemic without significantly compromising overall turnaround times.
CITATION STYLE
Chan, C. W., Kwon, S., Matushek, S. M., Ciaglia, C., Bethel, C., & Beavis, K. G. (2021). Implementation of a Sample Pooling Strategy for the Direct Detection of SARS-CoV-2 by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 156(1), 15–23. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcp/aqab035
Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.