Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategy
Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused millions of infections worldwide. Among the strategies for effective containment, frequent and massive testing was fundamental. Although sample pooling allows multiplying the installed analysis capacity, the definition of the number of samples to include in...
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000027 |
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| author | José P. Miranda Javiera Osorio Marcia Silva Carola Silva Victoria Madrid Rossana Camponovo Marcela Henríquez-Henríquez |
| author_facet | José P. Miranda Javiera Osorio Marcia Silva Carola Silva Victoria Madrid Rossana Camponovo Marcela Henríquez-Henríquez |
| author_sort | José P. Miranda |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused millions of infections worldwide. Among the strategies for effective containment, frequent and massive testing was fundamental. Although sample pooling allows multiplying the installed analysis capacity, the definition of the number of samples to include in a pool is commonly guided more by economic parameters than analytical quality. Methods: We developed a mathematical model to determine the pooling conditions that maximize reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity. We evaluated 30 samples individually and in 2-sample to 12-sample pools. Using Passing Bablok regressions, we estimated the shift of Ct values in the RT-qPCR reaction for each pool size. With this Ct shift, we estimated sensitivity in the context of the distribution of 1,030 individually evaluated positive samples. Findings: Our results showed that the most significant gain in efficiency occurred in the 4-sample pool, while at pools greater than 8-sample, there was no considerable reagent savings. Sensitivity significantly dropped to 87.18 %–92.52 % for a 4-sample pool and reached as low as 77.09 %–80.87 % in a 12-sample pooling. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a 4-sample pooling maximizes reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity. These considerations are essential to increase testing capacity and efficiently detect and contain contagious. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bc3d7f3e924a4ad99175501304256f8b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
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| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj-art-bc3d7f3e924a4ad99175501304256f8b2025-01-17T04:51:46ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402025-01-01111e41623Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategyJosé P. Miranda0Javiera Osorio1Marcia Silva2Carola Silva3Victoria Madrid4Rossana Camponovo5Marcela Henríquez-Henríquez6Bupa Lab, part of Bupa, La Florida, Santiago, Chile; Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile & Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Department of Nutrition, Diabetes, and Metabolism, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, ChileBupa Lab, part of Bupa, La Florida, Santiago, ChileBupa Lab, part of Bupa, La Florida, Santiago, ChileBupa Lab, part of Bupa, La Florida, Santiago, ChileBupa Lab, part of Bupa, La Florida, Santiago, ChileBupa Lab, part of Bupa, La Florida, Santiago, ChileBupa Lab, part of Bupa, La Florida, Santiago, Chile; Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile & Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile; Millennium Nucleus in Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, Millennium Science Initiative Program, ANID, Santiago, Chile; Corresponding author. Bupa Lab, part of Bupa, Chile.Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic caused millions of infections worldwide. Among the strategies for effective containment, frequent and massive testing was fundamental. Although sample pooling allows multiplying the installed analysis capacity, the definition of the number of samples to include in a pool is commonly guided more by economic parameters than analytical quality. Methods: We developed a mathematical model to determine the pooling conditions that maximize reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity. We evaluated 30 samples individually and in 2-sample to 12-sample pools. Using Passing Bablok regressions, we estimated the shift of Ct values in the RT-qPCR reaction for each pool size. With this Ct shift, we estimated sensitivity in the context of the distribution of 1,030 individually evaluated positive samples. Findings: Our results showed that the most significant gain in efficiency occurred in the 4-sample pool, while at pools greater than 8-sample, there was no considerable reagent savings. Sensitivity significantly dropped to 87.18 %–92.52 % for a 4-sample pool and reached as low as 77.09 %–80.87 % in a 12-sample pooling. Conclusions: Our results suggest that a 4-sample pooling maximizes reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity. These considerations are essential to increase testing capacity and efficiently detect and contain contagious.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000027SARS-CoV-2Pool testingEfficiencySensitivityPublic health |
| spellingShingle | José P. Miranda Javiera Osorio Marcia Silva Carola Silva Victoria Madrid Rossana Camponovo Marcela Henríquez-Henríquez Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategy Heliyon SARS-CoV-2 Pool testing Efficiency Sensitivity Public health |
| title | Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategy |
| title_full | Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategy |
| title_fullStr | Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategy |
| title_short | Reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable SARS-CoV-2 pool-based testing strategy |
| title_sort | reagent efficiency and analytical sensitivity optimization for a reliable sars cov 2 pool based testing strategy |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 Pool testing Efficiency Sensitivity Public health |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844025000027 |
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