After taking samples from five people separately, they put them into the same sampling tube. This mode is also called "mixed sampling" or "mixed sampling."
Beijing adopts this model in most cases. The other is to mix samples of the same volume from 3 or 5 people during laboratory testing, also called "sample mixing."
From a scientific point of view, the first "mixed collection" mode will not affect the sensitivity of nucleic acid detection, while the latter mode of mixing samples for detection will have a certain impact on the detection sensitivity. But the extent of the impact is known. Mixed testing has greatly improved nucleic acid testing capabilities. For example, Beijing's daily testing capacity is now more than 200,000. Using this combined model, the daily testing capacity can reach more than 2 million without increasing manpower and material resources. It needs to be emphasized that for testing of high-risk groups such as symptomatic patients and close contacts in fever clinics, apheresis and single testing should still be used. For screening of low-risk groups, "mixed screening" can be given priority.