An accurate model for SARS-CoV-2 pooled RT-PCR test errors.

ABSTRACT: Pooling is a method of simultaneously testing multiple samples for the presence of pathogens. Pooling of SARS-CoV-2 tests is increasing in popularity, due to its high testing throughput. A popular pooling scheme is Dorfman pooling: test N individuals simultaneously, if the test is positive, each individual is then tested separately; otherwise, all are declared negative. Most analyses of the error rates of pooling schemes assume that including more than a single infected sample in a pooled test does not increase the probability of a positive outcome. We challenge this assumption with experimental data and suggest a novel and parsimonious probabilistic model for the outcomes of pooled tests. As an application, we analyse the false-negative rate (i.e. the probability of a negative resu

SUBMITTER: Daon Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8564620 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature