Sample Pooling: A Cost-Saving Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Screening in Hospitalized Patients and Attending Relatives – Insights from a Secondary Care Hospital Amidst the Omicron Wave
Samadhi Patamatamkul¹,², Kunagorn Taimanee¹, Pariwat Wutisiriboon¹, Opass Putcharoen²,³, Kittitouch Jirakiat⁴
Affiliation : ¹ Department of Medicine, Suddhavej Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand; ² Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; ³ Emerging Infectious Diseases Clinical Center Thai Red Cross, Bangkok, Thailand; ⁴ Department of Orthopaedics, Suddhavej Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand
Background: Pooled real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 screening is cost- and labor-saving, but data during the Omicron wave are lacking.
Objective: To examine a correlation between pooled rRT-PCR as a screening method for SARS-CoV-2 and community COVID-19 incidence.
Materials and Methods: The authors retrospectively collected data on pooled rRT-PCR testing as a COVID-19 screening strategy between February 1 and April 30, 2022 in the present study center.
Results: In comparison to performing single rRT-PCR testing, pooled rRT-PCR testing strategy reduced the numbers of rRT-PCR testing by 73.36%, 53.63%, and 54.7% in February, March, and April, respectively. The community COVID-19 incidence rate per day (CCIR) averaged 25.43, 48.12, and 80.96 per 100,000 population per day during February, March, and April, respectively.
Conclusion: Small pooled rRT-PCR testing of up to five samples may be a cost-effective screening strategy among selected populations despite high CCIR during the Omicron wave.
Received 19 May 2023 | Revised 5 September 2023 | Accepted 6 September 2023
DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2023.10.13844
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Keywords : Pooled rRT-PCR; Screening
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