Optimal adaptive testing for epidemic control: combining molecular and serology tests

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Acemoglu, D., Fallah, A., Giometto, A., Huttenlocher, D., Ozdaglar, A., Parise, F., Pattathil, S.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2021
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author Acemoglu, D.
Fallah, A.
Giometto, A.
Huttenlocher, D.
Ozdaglar, A.
Parise, F.
Pattathil, S.
author_facet Acemoglu, D.
Fallah, A.
Giometto, A.
Huttenlocher, D.
Ozdaglar, A.
Parise, F.
Pattathil, S.
contents The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the importance of non-medical interventions, such as testing and isolation of infected individuals, in the control of epidemics. Here, we show how to minimize testing needs while maintaining the number of infected individuals below a desired threshold. We find that the optimal policy is adaptive, with testing rates that depend on the epidemic state. Additionally, we show that such epidemic state is difficult to infer with molecular tests alone, which are highly sensitive but have a short detectability window. Instead, we propose the use of baseline serology testing, which is less sensitive but detects past infections, for the purpose of state estimation. Validation of such combined testing approach with a stochastic model of epidemics shows significant cost savings compared to non-adaptive testing strategies that are the current standard for COVID-19.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2101_00773
institution arXiv
publishDate 2021
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Optimal adaptive testing for epidemic control: combining molecular and serology tests
Acemoglu, D.
Fallah, A.
Giometto, A.
Huttenlocher, D.
Ozdaglar, A.
Parise, F.
Pattathil, S.
Systems and Control
Dynamical Systems
Optimization and Control
Physics and Society
Populations and Evolution
The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the importance of non-medical interventions, such as testing and isolation of infected individuals, in the control of epidemics. Here, we show how to minimize testing needs while maintaining the number of infected individuals below a desired threshold. We find that the optimal policy is adaptive, with testing rates that depend on the epidemic state. Additionally, we show that such epidemic state is difficult to infer with molecular tests alone, which are highly sensitive but have a short detectability window. Instead, we propose the use of baseline serology testing, which is less sensitive but detects past infections, for the purpose of state estimation. Validation of such combined testing approach with a stochastic model of epidemics shows significant cost savings compared to non-adaptive testing strategies that are the current standard for COVID-19.
title Optimal adaptive testing for epidemic control: combining molecular and serology tests
topic Systems and Control
Dynamical Systems
Optimization and Control
Physics and Society
Populations and Evolution
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2101.00773