Optimal Size of COVID-19 Testing Pools
preprint
OA: gold
CC-BY-4.0
Abstract
This research note investigates the optimal size of pools for pooled, COVID-19 testing when positive pools will be followed up by individual tests of pool members. Formulae for the optimum are derived and provided. The analysis indicates that optimal pool sizes are unlikely to exceed about 20 individuals in realistic situations, optimal pool size is influenced by prevalence in the population and the extent to which infection is clustered within the population, and, pools are most efficiently comprised of people with homogeneous risk, with heterogeneity across pools.
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Source provenance
- europepmc
- last seen: 2026-05-19T01:45:01.086888+00:00
- unpaywall
- last seen: 2026-05-21T05:10:58.409756+00:00
License: CC-BY-4.0