Mass screening method cuts COVID-19 testing costs

Tiny quantities taken from individual swabs were mixed to create combined samples and then tested. The team showed that a single positive case could still be detected even when mixed with 99 negative swab results.

If this initial test highlighted that the mixed sample contained positive cases, then researchers used the algorithm to design a further series of tests. This enabled them to pinpoint individual positive swab results within the combined sample, making it easy to identify people who are infected.

If the initial test results indicated that there were no positive cases in the mixed sample, then no follow-up action was needed.

 

mass가 질량이 아니라, 대중의 다량의 이런 느낌으로 쓰임.

 

from paper

 

Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests are accurate but costly, making regular testing of every individual expensive.

Cost reductions can be achieved by pooling (or combining) subsamples and testing them in groups.

A balance must be struck between increasing the group size and retaining test sensitivity, since sample dilution increases the likelihood of false negatives for individuals with low viral load in the sampled region at the time of the test.

Here we propose an algorithm for pooling subsamples based on the geometry of a hypercube that, at low prevalence, accurately identifes infected individuals in a small number of tests and rounds of testing. We discuss the optimal group size and explain why. (100개 라고 한다. why는 귀찮아서 안읽었다. 시간나면 읽어보자)

 

 

 

reference

Leon Mutesa et al. A pooled testing strategy for identifying SARS-CoV-2 at low prevalence, Nature (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2885-5