WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Saturday issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Quest Diagnostics that allows pool samples from up to four individuals to test for COVID-19.
The Quest test is the first COVID-19 diagnostic test to be authorized for use with pooled samples.
Sample pooling is an important public health tool because it allows for more people to be tested quickly using fewer testing resources, said FDA.
Sample pooling does this by allowing multiple people - in this case four individuals - to be tested at once. The samples collected from the four individuals are then tested in a pool or "batch" using one test, rather than running each individual sample on its own test.
If the pool is positive, it means that one or more of the individuals tested in that pool may be infected, so each of the samples in that pool are tested again individually, according to FDA.
Because the samples are pooled, it is expected that fewer tests are run overall, meaning fewer testing supplies are used and more tests can be run at the same time, allowing patients to receive their results more quickly in most cases, according to FDA.
"This EUA for sample pooling is an important step forward in getting more COVID-19 tests to more Americans more quickly while preserving testing supplies," said FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn.
"Sample pooling becomes especially important as infection rates decline and we begin testing larger portions of the population," he said.
国际英语资讯:Britain prepares to leave EU amid public concerns over uncertainty
国内英语资讯:China further extends holiday in coronavirus hard-hit regions
体坛英语资讯:Indonesian athletes vow to break records in athletics at ASEAN Para Games
国际英语资讯:U.S. Fed expected to leave rates unchanged in first meeting of 2020
国际英语资讯:Massive protests erupt in Indian capital following firing on student
国内英语资讯:Chinese premier urges vaccine, medicine development against epidemic
国内英语资讯:China reports 9,692 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia, 213 deaths
鼠年到!盘点最受喜爱的中外老鼠明星
国际英语资讯:Trump unveils controversial Middle East peace plan
新型冠状病毒感染的肺炎与流感有何区别?
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: China rejects U.S., UK accusation on Syria in Security Council
国际英语资讯:Spotlight: EU leaders send message of unity, hope as UK departs
体坛英语资讯:Leipzig beat Augsburg 3-1 to clinch autumn championship in Bundesliga
国内英语资讯:CPC allocates 108 mln yuan for coronavirus control
国内英语资讯:Xi orders military to contribute to winning battle against epidemic
国内英语资讯:Publicity chief urges better communication of epidemic information
国际英语资讯:Motion to allow subpoenas for witnesses, documents in Trump impeachment trial fails to pass
体坛英语资讯:Stoch claims his first victory in ski jumping season
国际英语资讯:U.S. to expand immigration-related travel restrictions to six more countries
国际英语资讯:Britain formally leaves EU, ending 47-year-long membership
研究显示:和婴儿玩耍时,你们的脑电波会同步
体坛英语资讯:Diego Forlan to coach Uruguays Penarol
国内英语资讯:China Focus: China has taken strictest measures to curb epidemic: NHC
国际英语资讯:State of emergency declared amid bushfire threat to Australian capital
国内英语资讯:World leaders positively evaluate, support Chinas fight against virus outbreak
国际英语资讯:UN welcomes constructive dialogue between ASEAN, China: Guterres
国际英语资讯:EU to assess Trumps Mideast peace plan: top EU diplomat
国内英语资讯:First batch of charter flights brings back 199 stranded Hubei residents
国内英语资讯:Wuhans SARS treatment-model hospitals to receive patients soon
国际英语资讯:U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran nuclear entity, renews waivers