TABLE 2.
Evaluation of the number of RT-PCR tests saved by pooling 20 samples and extrapolation of the number of RT-PCR tests saved by pooling 10, 5, and 2 samples
| Value for RT-PCR |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic of RT-PCR tests performed and saved by pooling samples | S. pneumoniae | H. influenzae | K. pneumoniae | Total organisms | Delay in performing RT-PCR (h) | Costa (cost of consumables/personnel costs) (euros) |
| No. of individual specimens tested | 2,380 | 2,380 | 2,380 | 7,140 | 85 | 12,372 (9,567/2,805) |
| No. (%) of positive individual specimens | 215 (9) | 169 (7) | 95 (4) | 479 (20) | ||
| Total no. (%) of tests performed by pooling 20 samples | 1,759 (74) | 1,379 (58) | 1,379 (58) | 4,517 (63) | 54 | 7,834 (6,052/1,782) |
| Total no. (%) of tests saved by pooling 20 samples | 621 (26) | 1,001 (42) | 1,001 (42) | 2,623 (37) | ||
| Extrapolation of total no. (%) of tests performed by pooling 10 samples | 1,470 (62) | 1,170 (49) | 920 (39) | 3,560 (50) | 42 | 6,123 (4,770/1,386) |
| Extrapolation of total no. of tests saved (%) by pooling 10 samples | 910 (38) | 1,210 (51) | 1,460 (61) | 3,580 (50) | ||
| Extrapolation of total no. (%) of tests performed by pooling 5 samples | 1,275 (54) | 1,130 (47) | 861 (36) | 3,266 (46) | 40 | 6,156 (4,376/1,320) |
| Extrapolation of total no. (%) of tests saved by pooling 5 samples | 1,105 (46) | 1,250 (53) | 1,519 (64) | 3,874 (54) | ||
| Extrapolation of total no. (%) of tests performed by pooling 2 samples | 1,575 (66) | 1,520 (64) | 1,374 (58) | 4,469 (63) | 54 | 7,77 (5,988/1,782) |
| Extrapolation of total no. (%) of tests saved by pooling 2 samples | 805 (34) | 860 (36) | 1,006 (42) | 2,671 (37) | ||
a
The costs of RT-PCR were measured by adding the costs of specific consumables and reagents (including plates, plastic film, primers and probes, tips, and PCR mix) based on prices set by providers in France in January 2014 and the costs of paying personnel.