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A novel strategy for community screening of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): Sample pooling method.
Lim, Khai Lone; Johari, Nur Alia; Wong, Siew Tung; Khaw, Loke Tim; Tan, Boon Keat; Chan, Kok Keong; Wong, Shew Fung; Chan, Wan Ling Elaine; Ramzi, Nurul Hanis; Lim, Patricia Kim Chooi; Hakim, Sulaiman Lokman; Voon, Kenny.
  • Lim KL; Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Johari NA; Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Wong ST; Pathology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Khaw LT; Pathology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Tan BK; Human Biology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Chan KK; Human Biology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Wong SF; Pathology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Chan WLE; Centre for Environmental and Population Health Research, Institute for Research, Development and Innovation, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Ramzi NH; Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Lim PKC; Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Hakim SL; Institute for Research, Development and Innovation (IRDI), International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  • Voon K; Pathology Division, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
PLoS One ; 15(8): e0238417, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-732990
ABSTRACT
The rapid global spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has inflicted significant health and socioeconomic burden on affected countries. As positive cases continued to rise in Malaysia, public health laboratories experienced an overwhelming demand for COVID-19 screening. The confirmation of positive cases of COVID-19 has solely been based on the detection of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In efforts to increase the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of COVID-19 screening, we evaluated the feasibility of pooling clinical Nasopharyngeal/Oropharyngeal (NP/OP) swab specimens during nucleic acid extraction without a reduction in sensitivity of qRT-PCR. Pools of 10 specimens were extracted and subsequently tested by qRT-PCR according to the WHO-Charité protocol. We demonstrated that the sample pooling method showed no loss of sensitivity. The effectiveness of the pooled testing strategy was evaluated on both retrospective and prospective samples, and the results showed a similar detection sensitivity compared to testing individual sample alone. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a pooled testing strategy to increase testing capacity and conserve resources, especially when there is a high demand for disease testing.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Specimen Handling / Mass Screening / Coronavirus Infections / Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0238417

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Pneumonia, Viral / Specimen Handling / Mass Screening / Coronavirus Infections / Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Humans Country/Region as subject: Asia Language: English Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: Science / Medicine Year: 2020 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Journal.pone.0238417