Coronavirus Test Pooling Can Work, According to Math

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

Even in a global pandemic, math can help us make good decisions.

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts announced on March 24th that the state would start ‘pooling’ tests for COVID-19. What that means is that five saliva samples would be combined into one test tube. If the test comes back negative, then you know all 5 patients don’t have COVID-19 and you’re done. If the test comes…