Step-wise group screening strategies for isolating defective items

Abstract

Abstract. In this paper, we consider the application of stepwise group screening procedure to blood screening in populations with low human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence rate. Expressions for the saving rate based on the expected number of runs (tests) and on an appropriate cost function considering both the cost of testing and the cost of pooling operations shall be derived. We shall also derive a stopping criteria based on the added cost associated with the operation of pooling. The effect of wrongly specifying the population infection rate shall also be considered.