Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35061822›Full record

ArticlePloS one2022

Could pooled samples method affect SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis accuracy using BGI and Sansure-Biotech RT-PCR kits used in Gabon, Central Africa?

Rodrigue Mintsa-Nguema, Samira Zoa-Assoumou, Ludovic Mewono, Noé P M'Bondoukwé, Paulin Essono, Krystina Mengue-Me-Ngou-Milama, Marlaine Boukandou-Mounanga, Jacques M Ndong-Ngomo, Armel Mintsa-Ndong, Edgard B Ngoungou and 2 more

Abstract readValidation Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Rodrigue Mintsa-NguemaResearch Institute in Tropical Ecology, National Center for Scientific and Technological Research, Libreville, Gabon.ORCID 0000-0002-7581-2228
Samira Zoa-AssoumouProfessor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.
Ludovic MewonoProfessor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.
Noé P M'BondoukwéProfessor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.
Paulin EssonoProfessor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.
Krystina Mengue-Me-Ngou-MilamaProfessor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.
Marlaine Boukandou-MounangaProfessor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.ORCID 0000-0001-5985-608X
Jacques M Ndong-NgomoProfessor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.
Armel Mintsa-NdongNational Laboratory of Public Health, Libreville, Gabon.
Edgard B NgoungouDepartment of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Health Science, Libreville, Gabon.
Marielle K Bouyou-AkotetDepartment of Parasitology-Mycology, University of Health Science, Libreville, Gabon.
Elvyre Mbongo-KamaProfessor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Libreville, Gabon.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aims at establishing specimens pooling approach for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 using the RT-PCR BGI and Sansure-Biotech kits used in Gabon. To validate this approach, 14 positive samples, stored at -20°C for three to five weeks were analyzed individually (as gold standard) and in pools of five, eight and ten in the same plate. We created 14 pools of 5, 8 and 10 samples using 40 μL from each of the selected positive samples mixed with 4, 7 and 9 confirmed negative counterparts in a total volume of 200 μL, 320 μL and 400 μL for the pools of 5, 8 and 10 respectively. Both individual and pooled samples testing was conducted according to the BGI and Sansure-Biotech RT-PCR protocols used at the Professor Daniel Gahouma Laboratory (PDGL). Furthermore, the pooling method was also tested by comparing results of 470 unselected samples tested in 94 pools and individually. Results of our experiment showed that using a BGI single positive sample with cycle threshold (Ct) value of 28.42, confirmed by individual testing, detection occurred in all the pools. On the contrary samples with Ct >31 were not detected in pools of 10 and for these samples (Ct value as high as 37.17) their detection was possible in pool of 8. Regarding the Sansure-Biotech kit, positive samples were detected in all the pool sizes tested, irrespective of their Ct values. The specificity of the pooling method was 100% for the BGI and Sansure-Biotech RT-PCR assays. The present study found an increase in the Ct values with pool size for the BGI and Sansure-Biotech assays. This trend was statistically significant (Pearson's r = 0.978; p = 0,022) using the BGI method where the mean Ct values were 24.04±1.1, 26.74±1.3, 27.91±1.1 and 28.32±1.1 for the individual, pool of 5, 8 and 10 respectively. The testing of the 470 samples showed that one of the 94 pools had a positive test similar to the individual test using the BGI and Sansure-Biotech kits. The saving of time and economizing test reagents by using the pooling method were demonstrated in this study. Ultimately, the pooling method could be used for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 without modifying the accuracy of results in Gabon. We recommend a maximum pool size of 8 for the BGI kit. For the Sansure-Biotech kit, a maximum pool size of 10 can be used without affecting its accuracy compared to the individual testing.

Indexed as

COVID-19COVID-19 Nucleic Acid TestingGabonHealth ServicesHumansReagent Kits, DiagnosticRNA, ViralSARS-CoV-2Sensitivity and SpecificitySpecimen HandlingReagent Kits, DiagnosticRNA, Viral

Identifiers

PMID35061822
PMCPMC8782308

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.