Pooled sputum to optimise the efficiency and utility of rapid, point-of-care molecular SARS-CoV-2 testing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

As SARS-CoV-2 testing expands, particularly to widespread asymptomatic testing, high sensitivity point-of-care PCR platforms may optimise potential benefits from pooling multiple patients' samples.

Method

We tested patients and asymptomatic citizens for SARS-CoV-2, exploring the efficiency and utility of CovidNudge (i) for detection in individuals' sputum (compared to nasopharyngeal swabs), (ii) for detection in pooled sputum samples, and (iii) by modelling roll out scenarios for pooled sputum testing.

Results

Across 295 paired samples, we find no difference (p = 0.1236) in signal strength for sputum (mean amplified replicates (MAR) 25.2, standard deviation (SD) 14.2, range 0-60) compared to nasopharyngeal swabs (MAR 27.8, SD 12.4, range 6-56). At 10-sample

SUBMITTER: Burdett A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8265726 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature