biostudies-literatureCastellaro AMMinistry of Health of the Province of CórdobaNational University of Cordobae0266408https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8975135biostudies-literatureUnknown17(4)<h4>Background</h4>The current COVID-19 pandemic has overloaded the diagnostic capacity of laboratories by the gold standard method rRT-PCR. This disease has a high spread rate and almost a quarter of infected individuals never develop symptoms. In this scenario, active surveillance is crucial to stop the virus propagation.<h4>Methods</h4>Between July 2020 and April 2021, 11,580 oropharyngeal swab samples collected in closed and semi-closed institutions were processed for SARS-CoV-2 detection in pools, implementing this strategy for the first time in Córdoba, Argentina. Five-sample pools were constituted before nucleic acid extraction and amplification by rRT-PCR. Comparative analysis of cycle threshold (Ct) values from positive pools and individual samples along with a cost-benefit reportPloS oneSARS-CoV-2 detection in multi-sample pools in a real pandemic scenario: A screening strategy of choice for active surveillance.PMC8975135program for active surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 disseminationFacultad de Ciencias Químicas UNC GroupCastro GGiaj Merlera GGallardo JCastellaro AMBelaus ARosales Cavaglieri LCinalli CRe VRondan Duenas JDi Cola GVelez PLopez LBocco JLBarbas MGMakhoul ASicilia PPisano MBCondat FCardozo DHfalseSARS-CoV-2 detection in multi-sample pools in a real pandemic scenario: A screening strategy of choice for active surveillance.<h4>Background</h4>The current COVID-19 pandemic has overloaded the diagnostic capacity of laboratories by the gold standard method rRT-PCR. This disease has a high spread rate and almost a quarter of infected individuals never develop symptoms. In this scenario, active surveillance is crucial to stop the virus propagation.<h4>Methods</h4>Between July 2020 and April 2021, 11,580 oropharyngeal swab samples collected in closed and semi-closed institutions were processed for SARS-CoV-2 detection in pools, implementing this strategy for the first time in Córdoba, Argentina. Five-sample pools were constituted before nucleic acid extraction and amplification by rRT-PCR. Comparative analysis of cycle threshold (Ct) values from positive pools and individual samples along with a cost-benefit report2022-01-01T00:00:00Z20222025-04-19T07:47:17.321Z2025-04-19T07:47:17.321ZS-EPMC89751353536380510.1371/journal.pone.0266408