title: Effects of pooled samples.
abstract: Pooling of specimens before testing may reduce the costs of expensive tests for rare conditions. This paper presents models of how test performance is degraded by such pools, and of the financial savings that pooling allows. The method of computing optimal pool size is demonstrated on a screening test and on the test for gastrin. Test characteristics that make pooling especially effective are listed.
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D011336:Probability; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D015043:Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D005755:Gastrins