Pooled testing conserves SARS-CoV-2 laboratory resources and improves test turn-around time: experience on the Kenyan Coast [version 1;peer review: awaiting peer review]

Background International recommendations for the control of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic emphasize the central role of laboratory testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent, at scale The availability of testing reagents, laboratory equipment and qualified staff are important bottlenecks to achieving this Elsewhere, pooled testing (i e combining multiple samples in the same reaction) has been suggested to increase testing capacities in the pandemic period Methods We discuss our experience with SARS-CoV-2 pooled testing using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on the Kenyan Coast Results In mid-May, 2020, our RT-PCR testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2 was improved by ~100% as a result of adoption of a six-sample pooled testing strategy This was accompanied with a concomitant saving of ~50% of SARS-CoV-2 laboratory test kits at both the RNA extraction and RT-PCR stages However, pooled testing came with a slight decline of test sensitivity The RT-PCR cycle threshold value (I”Ct) was ~1 59 higher for samples tested in pools compared to samples tested singly Conclusions Pooled testing is a useful strategy to increase SARS-CoV-2 laboratory testing capacity especially in low-income settings