Before revision: We propose applications of sample pooling for RT-qPCR diagnostic to the epidemiologic study of COVID-19 . Taking into account the false negatives created by the dilution of individual samples, our arguments indicate that group testing allows for precise estimates of the prevalence of the disease in the population and early detection of epidemic outbreak in connected communities while saving tests for further massive testing of the population .
After revision: We propose applications of sample pooling for RT-qPCR diagnostic to the epidemiologic study of COVID-19 . Taking into account the false negatives created by the dilution of individual samples, our arguments indicate that group testing allows for precise estimates of the prevalence of the disease . We then introduce a precise model of the RT-qPCR process, used to test for the presence of virus in a sample. We construct a statistical model for the viral load in a typical infected individual based on clinical data from Jones et. al. (2020). Using these models, we then propose a method for the measure of the prevalence in a population, based on group testing, taking into account the increased number of false negatives associated to this method. Finally, we present an application of sample pooling for the prevention of epidemic outbreak in connected communities while saving tests for further massive testing of the population .