Diagnostic performance of RT-PCR-based sample pooling strategy for the detection of SARS-CoV-2

Table 2 Difference in cycle threshold values of individual and grouped samples according to the scenario of 10% and 20% positivity for SARS-CoV-2

Variable	Individual samples	Pooled samples	P value
Ct Total (n = 45)*	28.47 (20.76–31.36)	29.88 (23.77–33.74)	< 0.001^a
Pooling 1/10 (10%)
Ct: ≤ 25 (n = 5)*	18.46 (17.86–18.82)	20.22 (20.02–22.26)	0.043^a
Ct: 26–30 (n = 5)*	29.37 (29.22–29.66)	32.87 (31.75–33.93)	0.042^a
Ct: 31–35 (n = 5)*	32.15 (31.94–32.28)	34.67 (33.67–34.81)	0.043^a
Pooling 2/10 (20%)
Ct: ≤ 25 (n = 10)*	20.58 (17.31–21.14)	22.68 (21.20–23.77)	0.041^a
Ct: 26–30 (n = 10)*	28.21 (27.56–28.44)	28.60 (28.56–28.61)	0.138^a
Ct: 31–35 (n = 10)*	31.40 (31.19–32.36)	33.74 (33.20–34.85)	0.125^a

*Median and interquartile range, ^aWilcoxon statistical test of signs and ranges. Ct cycle threshold

ISSN: 1476-0711