Effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies in reducing COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths

Saif-Ur-Rahman, KM; Nurdin, Nadra; Movsisyan, Ani ; Kothari, Kavita; Gleeson, Ciara; Conway, Thomas; Tierney, Marie; Taneri, Petek Eylul; Mulholland, Deirdre; Tricco, Andrea C; Dinnes, Jacqueline und Devane, Declan (2025): Effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies in reducing COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths. In: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Vol. 2025, No. 10, CD016192

Abstract

Rationale: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has substantially affected daily life. Sustainable testing practices are essential to balance the resource demands of widespread testing with the need to reduce the health impacts of COVID-19. However, the effectiveness of specific testing strategies for symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals in reducing COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths remains uncertain.

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of different SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies in reducing COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations, and deaths amongst suspected cases and asymptomatic individuals.

Search methods: We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Elsevier), Europe PMC, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. We also conducted reference checks, citation searches, and contacted study authors to identify eligible studies. The most recent search was conducted on 07 October 2024. ....

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Medicine > Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology
• Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health
• ISSN: 14651858
• Language: English