---
id: "coronavirus-smarter-crowdsourcing:strategies/Rapidly-pilot-pooled-testing-schemes.-Governments-"
type: "GovLab policy strategy"
title: "Rapidly pilot pooled testing schemes."
url: "https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/strategies/rapidly-pilot-pooled-testing-schemes.-governments-"
summary: "Rapidly pilot pooled testing schemes. Governments should act quickly ( different contexts and populations ."
source: "The GovLab (coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org)"
licence: "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)"
---

# Rapidly pilot pooled testing schemes.

Rapidly pilot pooled testing schemes. Governments should act quickly (<1 month) to pilot various pooled testing schemes such as Dorfman,Splitting,Sterret,and Matrix testing to gauge scalability and utility amongst [different contexts and populations](https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-04/su-vst042820.php).

- Timeframe: 1-3 Months (immediate)
- Audience: Government Workers
- Type: Policy/Legislative/Regulatory, Technology/Innovation
- Recommendation: [Pooled Testing](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/recommendations/pooled-testing)
- Part of: [Smarter Crowdsourcing in the Age of Coronavirus](https://coronavirus.smartercrowdsourcing.org/)

## Actions governments should take

1. Convene an advisory panel of experts with relevant skills and experience from research firms and universities
2. Identify ideal populations to work with on pilot testing scheme such as nursing homes, congregate living residences, or groups of healthcare workers
3. Secure partnerships with laboratories to manage the throughput of pooled tests

## Examples from around the world

1. India established a [pooled testing protocol](https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelineforrtPCRbasedpooledsamplingFinal.pdf) for quarantined migrant workers and international travelers which combines 25 samples at a time. The country also uses pooled testing to monitor green zones where prevalence is low. Rather than monitoring specifically vulnerable populations, India is using pooling to test groups where prevalence is perceived as being low, thus maximizing the efficiency gains from pooled testing.