<span style="color: #222222;">Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) has issued an advisory on feasibility of using pooled samples for molecular testing of COVID-19. The objective of pooled samples methodology is to increase capacity of the laboratories to screen increased numbers of samples using molecular testing for COVID-19 for the purpose of surveillance.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In the advisory, ICMR has stated that number of COVID-19 cases in India is rising exponentially and it is critical to increase the numbers of tests conducted by laboratories. ICMR has said that a pooled testing algorithm involves the Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR screening of a specimen pool comprising multiple individual patient specimens followed by individual testing only if a pool screens positive. It also said that all individual samples in a negative pool will be regarded as negative.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">ICMR added that it will result in substantial cost savings when a large proportion of pools tests negative. A feasibility study was conducted at DHR, ICMR Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at King George's Medical University, Lucknow. It has been demonstrated that performing real-time PCR screening for COVID-19 by pooling five samples is feasible when the prevalence rates of infection are low.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">ICMR has said that individual testing is recommended if any of the pool is found to be positive. Pooling of more than five samples is not recommended to avoid the effect of dilution leading to false negatives. ICMR has recommended that it must be used only in areas with low prevalence of COVID-19.</span><br />''  <br />