Due to the current pandemic, a global shortage of reagents has drawn interest in developing alternatives to increase the number of coronavirus tests. One such alternative is sample pooling. We compared commercial kits that are used in COVID-19 diagnostics in terms of their sensitivity and feasibility for use in pooling. In this preliminary study, we showed that pooling of up to 80 samples did not affect the efficacy of the kits. Additionally, the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene is a more suitable target in pooled samples than the envelope (E) gene. This approach could provide an easy method of screening a large number of samples and help adjust different governmental regulations.

This study describes 8 years of experience (1990-97) in the first Romanian center for family planning and contraception, which started in Bucharest at the Clinic Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology 'Prof. Dr. P. Sirbu' on 27 February 1990. A total of 14,258 women had attended the clinic by 1 January 1998. Trends in the use of contraceptives and the number of births and abortions at the center are described. During the 8 years, the induced abortions decreased by 65% and the uncompleted abortions (illegal abortions) by 45%. Hormonal contraception was the most commonly used contraceptive method (61.5%), followed by intrauterine devices (28.8%) and local contraception (barrier methods: condoms, diaphragms, spermicides) (9%).