An individualized group testing method for medical test samples

A group testing system for detecting a target pathology indicator, said group testing system comprising:

• medical test samples, wherein each of said medical test samples stems from an associated undiagnosed individual and has a potential pathology indicator load of said target pathology indicator at least partly based on individualized data of said undiagnosed individual, wherein said potential pathology indicator load is indicative of an actual pathology indicator load of said target pathology indicator when said target pathology indicator is present,
• a test pool which is a pooled subset of said medical test samples, wherein a potential pathology indicator load variance of said test pool is lower than a potential pathology indicator load variance of said medical test samples;
• and
• laboratory detection apparatus configured to detect said target pathology indicator in said test pool via group testing.

A method for treating of a pathology in a group of undiagnosed individuals, the method including the steps of:

• providing medical test samples for detecting a target pathology indicator of said pathology, wherein each of said medical test samples stems from an associated undiagnosed individual;
• pre-estimating a potential pathology indicator load of a target pathology indicator in each of said medical test samples at least partly based on individualized data of said associated undiagnosed individual, wherein said potential pathology indicator load is indicative of an actual pathology indicator load of said target pathology indicator when said target pathology indicator is present;
• pooling a subset of said medical test samples into a test pool at least partly based on said potential pathology indicator load of each of said medical test samples to reduce a potential pathology indicator load variance of said test pool;
• detecting said target pathology indicator by group testing said test pool;
• and
• treating at least one individual of said group of undiagnosed individuals for which said target pathology indicator is detected.