FDA Allows Pooled Sampling for Quest’s COVID-19 Tests

The FDA has reissued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Quest Diagnostics that allows the use of its Quest SARS-CoV-2 real-time polymerase chain reaction test with pooled samples containing up to four swab specimens — making it the first COVID-19 diagnostic test to be authorized for use with pooled samples.

The sample pooling allows multiple samples to be testing in a single batch. If the pool is positive, it means that one or more of the individuals tested in that pool may be infected, so each of the samples in the pool are tested again individually.

The testing strategy is most efficient in areas with low prevalence, when most results are expected to be negative, the FDA said.