Evaluation of automated molecular tests for the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 in pooled nasopharyngeal and saliva specimens

Background Pooling of samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing in low-prevalence settings has been used as an effective strategy to expand capacity and mitigate challenges with the shortage supplies. We evaluated two automated molecular test systems detection RNA pooled specimens. Methods Pooled nasopharyngeal saliva specimens were tested by Qiagen QIAstat-Dx Respiratory Panel (QIAstat) or Cepheid Xpert Xpress (Xpert), results compared that standard RT-qPCR tests without pooling. Results In specimens, sensitivity/specificity pool approach, 5 10 per pool, 77%/100% (n = 105) 74.1%/100% 260) QIAstat, 97.1%/100% 250) 100%/99.5% 200) Xpert, respectively. Pool (10 pool; n 150) resulted 87.5% sensitivity 99.3% specificity individual tests. size did not significantly affect difference cycle threshold (CT) from testing. CT values obtained both QIAstat positively correlated (Pearson's correlation coefficient r 0.85 0.99, p < 0.05). However, stronger (p 0.01, paired t test) than a subset positive mean differences −4.3 ± 2.43 −4.6 2 tests, Conclusion Our suggest can be utilized sample COVID-19 screening providing significant cost savings improving throughput affecting quality.