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2020;5 186.

Pooled testing conserves SARS-CoV-2 laboratory resources and improves test turn-around time: experience on the Kenyan Coast.

Charles N Agoti, Martin Mutunga, Arnold W Lambisia, Domtila Kimani, Robinson Cheruiyot, Patience Kiyuka, Clement Lewa, Elijah Gicheru, Metrine Tendwa, Khadija Said Mohammed, Victor Osoti, Johnstone Makale, Brian Tawa, Calleb Odundo, Wesley Cheruiyot, Wilfred Nyamu, Wilson Gumbi, Jedidah Mwacharo, Lydia Nyamako, Edward Otieno, David Amadi, Janet Thoya, Angela Karani, Daisy Mugo, Jennifer Musyoki, Horace Gumba, Salim Mwarumba, Bonface M Gichuki, Susan Njuguna, Debra Riako, Shadrack Mutua, John N Gitonga, Yiakon Sein, Brian Bartilol, Shaban J Mwangi, Donwilliams O Omuoyo, John M Morobe, Zaydah R de Laurent, Philip Bejon, Lynette Isabella Ochola-Oyier, Benjamin Tsofa
Author Information
  1. Charles N Agoti: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  2. Martin Mutunga: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  3. Arnold W Lambisia: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  4. Domtila Kimani: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  5. Robinson Cheruiyot: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  6. Patience Kiyuka: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  7. Clement Lewa: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  8. Elijah Gicheru: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  9. Metrine Tendwa: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  10. Khadija Said Mohammed: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  11. Victor Osoti: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  12. Johnstone Makale: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  13. Brian Tawa: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  14. Calleb Odundo: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  15. Wesley Cheruiyot: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  16. Wilfred Nyamu: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  17. Wilson Gumbi: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  18. Jedidah Mwacharo: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  19. Lydia Nyamako: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  20. Edward Otieno: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  21. David Amadi: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  22. Janet Thoya: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  23. Angela Karani: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  24. Daisy Mugo: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  25. Jennifer Musyoki: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  26. Horace Gumba: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  27. Salim Mwarumba: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  28. Bonface M Gichuki: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  29. Susan Njuguna: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  30. Debra Riako: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  31. Shadrack Mutua: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  32. John N Gitonga: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  33. Yiakon Sein: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  34. Brian Bartilol: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  35. Shaban J Mwangi: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  36. Donwilliams O Omuoyo: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  37. John M Morobe: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  38. Zaydah R de Laurent: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  39. Philip Bejon: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya. ORCID
  40. Lynette Isabella Ochola-Oyier: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
  41. Benjamin Tsofa: Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kilifi, Kenya.
PMID: 33134555 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.16113.2

Abstract

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. We discuss our experience with SARS-CoV-2 pooled testing using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on the Kenyan Coast. 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 (��Ct) was ~1.59 higher for samples tested in pools compared to samples tested singly. Pooled testing is a useful strategy to increase SARS-CoV-2 laboratory testing capacity especially in low-income settings.

Keywords

COVID-19 Kenya Kilifi Pooled testing SARS-CoV-2

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Grants

  1. /Wellcome Trust
  2. EP-C-15-003/EPA
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 33

Word Cloud

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