What is ‘pool testing’ and does it really expedite Coronavirus detection?

• Andaman and Nicobar has been the first in India to implement ‘pool testing’ to overcome the shortage of test kits in the country.
  
• Multiple samples of the suspected Coronavirus patients are now being examined in a single Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) test.
  
• When the combined samples test positive for the Coronavirus, each sample is examined individually to determine those with the infection.
  
• According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), India has just tested 75,000 people for Covid-19 so far.

Andaman and Nicobar has been the first in India to implement ‘pool testing’ to overcome the shortage of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) kits in the country. The method has reportedly been approved by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

What is pool testing?

Multiple samples of the suspected Coronavirus patients are now being examined in a single Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR) test.

“On the basis of these laboratory results, in particular large cohorts and testing on asymptomatic individuals can be carried out, allowing a massive savings of test kits in particular,” says Professor Sandra Ciesek of Goethe University, Frankfurt.

When the combined samples test positive for the Coronavirus, each sample is examined individually to determine those with the infection. Whereas if the swab sample tests negative, it saves the cost of testing all of them individually.

Overcome the shortage of test kits

This will reduce the total test kits used to examine patients and treat them. It is also expected to trim the work at the laboratories testing these samples.

According to the apex body for biomedical research, India has just tested 75,000 people for Covid-19, compared to 1.36 billion population.

International researchers suggest that pooling test samples is cost effective, especially for the countries with limited resources. It can be used to prevent community spread of the disease. Israel researchers found that testing combined samples of up to 64 people led to quicker results and reduced costs.

According to Chetan Sanghi, chief secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the pool testing method has reduced the usage of test kits to one-fourth. “Thus more tests on an average in our islands,” he tweeted.


Andaman and Nicobar, and Maharashtra implementing pool testing

The union territory Andaman and Nicobar has been conducting these tests for 10 days now and over 600 tests have been conducted, Print reported citing government sources. “Five samples per testing kit are used. So, less than 25 kits are being used for testing 100 samples,” the officials said.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra has also tested over 40,000 swab samples as the number of infections rose to 1,985 in the state, as per the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

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