Increasing Virus Test Capacity via Recursive Pool Testing with an Application to SARS-CoV-2 Testing

In the context of adequate reactions to the current Covid-19 pandemic, Seifried, Ciesek et al. [6, 5] have proposed the application of SARS-CoV-2 pool testing in the pursuit of increasing testing capacity. We show how this method can be substantially improved in realistic scenarios, and we point out a possible impact on the ongoing discussion concerning the need of increased testing as a complementary measure to relaxed restrictions.