THREAD: CDC issued new guidance that allows labs to combine patient samples for #coronavirus so labs can test a single (combined) sample for each patient rather than test different samples individually. This will allow labs to screen more patients per day cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
We are surveying labs now to see when they will convert to this new procedure. This means that a lab which can test 100 samples a day, that could previously test about 50 patients a day (because each patient had two samples) can now screen 100 patients.
This new process will increase throughput in labs, and also help alleviate a looming shortage in the reagents that are used by labs to prep patient samples for testing. politico.com/news/2020/03/1…
Some labs were already combining samples into one; but when they run the sample, regulations still require two ‘targets’ or wells to be used for verification purposes, which is also eating into supply of reagents in question. This is another policy that may merit consideration.
