Figure 2.

Pooled testing: Sample pooling allows multiple people to be tested at once. Swab samples are collected from each individual. Half of each sample is combined in a pool with the others, and half is set aside in case a retest is needed to confirm positivity. If the pool is negative, then all samples in that pool are cleared as negative. If the pool is positive, it means that 1 or more of the individuals in that pool are positive, so each sample is tested again individually.⁹²