Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Upper Respiratory Swap Samples by Pooling Method
Yeşim Tuyji TokMert Ahmet KuskucuHazal ErdemDevrim SarıbalSeda Salman YılmazOkan Kadir NohutRidvan KaraaliI Lker İnanç BalkanBilgül MeteÖmer Fehmi TabakGokhan AygunKenan MidilliPublished in: Balkan medical journal (2021)
The pooling strategy is an effective approach to extend the impact of limited testing resources and reagents available in certain periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. Testing by pooling samples requires improvement of RNA extraction methods and careful monitoring of RT-PCR test sensitivity to avoid missing low-positive entities. Therefore, based on the prevalence of COVID-19 in their regions, laboratories should conduct their own validation of pooling studies for RNA extraction and amplification methods they use.