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Implementation of an efficient sample pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2.

dc.contributor.advisorDe Oliveira, Tulio Paiva N Andrade.
dc.contributor.advisorPetruccione, Francesco.
dc.contributor.advisorGiandhari, Jennifer.
dc.contributor.advisorLessells, Richard John.
dc.contributor.advisorSingh, Lavanya.
dc.contributor.authorAnyaneji, Ugochukwu Jacob.
dc.date.accessioned2023-09-20T11:28:02Z
dc.date.available2023-09-20T11:28:02Z
dc.date.created2022
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionMasters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.en_US
dc.description.abstractThe rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals remains a key strategy for controlling the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Frequent testing of populations to detect infection early in asymptomatic or presymptomatic individuals can be a powerful tool for intercepting transmission, especially when the viral prevalence is low. However, RT-PCR testing – the gold standard of SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis – is expensive, making regular testing of every individual unfeasible. Sample pooling is one approach to lowering costs. By combining samples and testing them in groups the number of tests required is reduced, substantially lowering costs. Here we report on the implementation of pooling strategies using 3-d and 4-d hypercubes to test a professional sports team in South Africa. We have shown that infected samples can be reliably detected in groups of 27 and 81, with minimal loss of assay sensitivity for samples with individual Ct values of up to 32. We report on the automation of sample pooling, using a liquid-handling robot and an automated web interface to identify positive samples. We conclude that hypercube pooling allows for the reliable RT-PCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection, at significantly lower costs than lateral flow antigen tests.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/handle/10413/22287
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subject.otherSARS-CoV-2.en_US
dc.subject.otherRT-PCR.en_US
dc.subject.otherHigh-throughout.en_US
dc.subject.otherPooled Testing.en_US
dc.titleImplementation of an efficient sample pooling strategy for high throughput diagnostic testing of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus-2.en_US
dc.typeThesisen_US

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