KP introduces ‘pool testing’ approach for coronavirus

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will conduct pool testing for coronavirus, which has increased the province’s capacity by three to five times.

The KP health and finance minister Taimur Khan Jhagra in a series of tweets said  that the coronavirus testing laboratory at Khyber Medical University is now permitted to conduct pool testing.

“After successfully conducting 27 trials on pool testing, with 100pc congruence, the flagship KP COVID-19 testing lab at KMU is now mandated to do pool tests — suited for large groups with low prevalence rates; theoretically increasing capacity to test by 3-5x,” he added.

After successfully conducting 27 trials on pool testing, with 100% congruence, the flagship KP #coronavirus testing lab at KMU is now mandated to do pool tests – suited for large groups with low prevalence rates; theoretically increasing capacity to test by 3-5x. Fantastic job! https://t.co/bn6XEhUDoP

— Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) April 24, 2020

Giving a breakdown of the total number of tests conducted in the province so far, he said: “KP conducted 1,146 tests, its highest yet [according to data available till April 23]. KMU alone conducted a record 902 tests across three 24-7 shifts.”

KP Corona Virus scorecard April 23.

KP conducted 1146 tests, its highest yet. KMU alone conducted a record 902 tests across 3 24-7 shifts.

Breakdown as follows:
– 902 KMU
– 106 Other KP public sector labs
– 34 NIH
– 104 Pvt sector labs

– 91% govt paid tests
– 9% Pvt sector pic.twitter.com/ZMpqD2VZ5y

— Taimur Saleem Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) April 24, 2020

Explaining the method, Jhagra said that pool testing involves taking several samples and conducting a combined test.

“Used by Germany and other European countries, pool testing is carried out for population sampling in areas where there is low prevalence.

“Under this theory, if you are conducting three, five, 10 tests, the results of which come back negative, then that [population] pool can be ruled out and 10 others can be declared negative.”

However, if one of the cases comes back positive, you will have to retest all samples individually, he said.

“There is an advantage [in using this method]: for example, a plane carrying 200 passengers had arrived from Dubai and one person had tested positive.

“If you had carried out 40 [testing] pools, one pool would have tested positive. From this pool, you would have tested the five people again [to confirm their diagnosis] and you could have wrapped up 200 tests quicker.”

The minister added that under the same theory, the people working at KMU conducted 27 trials on pool testing as well as individual tests to confirm the results.

“All 27 of the trials had 100 percent congruence; their results matched those of individual tests”.