Emerging Infectious Diseases (Apr 2021)

Increased SARS-CoV-2 Testing Capacity with Pooled Saliva Samples

  • Anne E. Watkins,
  • Eli P. Fenichel,
  • Daniel M. Weinberger,
  • Chantal B.F. Vogels,
  • Doug E. Brackney,
  • Arnau Casanovas-Massana,
  • Melissa Campbell,
  • John Fournier,
  • Santos Bermejo,
  • Rupak Datta,
  • Charles S. Dela Cruz,
  • Shelli F. Farhadian,
  • Akiko Iwasaki,
  • Albert I. Ko,
  • Nathan D. Grubaugh,
  • Anne L. Wyllie

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2704.204200
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 27, no. 4

Abstract

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We analyzed feasibility of pooling saliva samples for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 testing and found that sensitivity decreased according to pool size: 5 samples/pool, 7.4% reduction; 10 samples/pool, 11.1%; and 20 samples/pool, 14.8%. When virus prevalence is >2.6%, pools of 5 require fewer tests; when <0.6%, pools of 20 support screening strategies.

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