Meaning: Pooled evidence is not a silver bullet: For example, it is not appropriate for communities where outbreaks are widespread, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement.
But in areas where the prevalence of the virus is low, pooled testing can reduce the consumption of scarce testing resources in people who are probably not infected but need to be screened before they can return to work or school.
“This USA for pooling samples is an important step forward in conducting more Covid-19 tests on more Americans faster while preserving test supplies,” said Hahn. “Pooling samples becomes especially important as infection rates decrease and we begin to analyze larger portions of the population.”
Pooled tests have been used during the current pandemic in several other countries, including China, Germany, Israel, and South Africa, and have been used in the US for other infectious diseases, such as HIV.
Whats Next: HHS Testing Czar Brett Giroir said pooled testing could help boost the country’s testing capacity to 100 million per month in September, compared to 20 million last month.
