Biological Sample Analysis Matrix Pooling Strategy

The testing process is segmented into two stages: (1) pooled testing where multiple samples are tested together in groups, and (2) individual testing only for samples identified as potentially positive. This segmentation allows most negative samples to be identified through efficient pooled testing, while maintaining the ability to confirm positives through individual testing, thus reducing overall testing time while preserving accuracy.

Pooled testing is performed as a preliminary action before individual testing. By first testing groups of samples together, the system preliminarily identifies which samples may be positive, allowing subsequent individual testing to be focused only on those specific samples rather than all samples, thereby significantly reducing total testing time.

The system uses feedback from pooled test results to guide subsequent individual testing decisions. When a pooled test shows a positive result, the system feeds back information about which specific samples in that pool need individual testing, allowing precise identification of true positives while filtering out false positives through the systematic evaluation of multiple pool combinations.

The system transforms the one-dimensional problem of individual sample testing into a two-dimensional matrix of pooled samples, where samples are organized in rows and columns. By analyzing test results across both dimensions (row pools and column pools), the system can precisely locate positive samples and distinguish true positives from false positives through the intersection pattern of positive results.

Instead of mixing all samples into a single large pool, the system segments samples into multiple smaller pools arranged in a matrix structure. This segmentation allows efficient testing of large numbers of samples (e.g., 16 samples in a 4x4 matrix) while each individual pool contains only a manageable number of samples, avoiding the exponential sample amount requirement of traditional single-pool methods.

The system transitions from a one-dimensional single-pool approach to a two-dimensional matrix structure with row pools and column pools. This dimensional change allows the testing of N×N samples using only 2N pools instead of requiring a single pool with all N×N samples, dramatically reducing the sample amount required per test while maintaining the ability to test large numbers of samples efficiently.