Pooling system for performing PCRs

The specific objectives of this project were:
-to identify infected individuals in healthy populations (asymptomatic carriers) in a rapid and inexpensive manner
-to classify populations according to their prevalence - low (1%) or high prevalence (5%).

It consists of joining the samples of 20 different people and processing them together, as if they were those of a single individual. If the result of processing the resulting sample is negative, it is concluded that each of the original samples is also negative, thus saving the time and capacity that would be involved in the individual study of each of the original samples.

If the overall result is positive, the samples have to be separated for reprocessing: either by dividing the pooled sample into smaller fractions or by testing each of them individually.

This technique was not only used to detect positives but also in a preventive way, achieving infection-free zones.

One limitation is that the geometry of the robotic track conditioned the way of working

But the advantages are a lot:
-save time and reagents detecting negative (detects outbreaks started)
-you can perfom serial analisis and include more targets besides the coronavirus (the last two moths they worked with flu and with other virus)

Finally, if the result is negative, a message is sent immediately to the mobile phone. If the presence of a virus is detected, the protocol standardised by the SERGAS is initiated.