Large-scale implementation of pooled RNA extraction and RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Testing for active SARS-CoV-2 infection is a fundamental tool in the public health measures taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the overwhelming use of SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription (RT)-PCR tests worldwide, the availability of test kits has become a major bottleneck and the need to increase testing throughput is rising. We aim to overcome these challenges by pooling samples together, and performing RNA extraction and RT-PCR in pools.

Methods

We tested the efficiency and sensitivity of pooling strategies for RNA extraction and RT-PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2. We tested 184 samples both individually and in pools to estimate the effects of pooling. We further implemented Dorfman pooling with a pool size of eight samples in large-scale clinical tes

SUBMITTER: Ben-Ami R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7308776 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature