Open Access

ARTICLE

A Binomial Model Approach: Comparing the R₀ Values of SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR Data from Laboratories across Northern Cyprus

Nazife Sultanoglu^1,2,*, Nezihal Gokbulut³, Tamer Sanlidag², Evren Hincal^2,3, Bilgen Kaymakamzade^2,3, Murat Sayan^2,4

1 Department of Medical Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Near East University, Nicosia, 99138, Cyprus
2 DESAM Research Institute, Near East University, Nicosia, 99138, Cyprus
3 Department of Mathematics, Near East University, Nicosia, 99138, Cyprus
4 Faculty of Medicine, Kocaeli University, Clinical Laboratory, PCR Unit, Kocaeli, 41001, Turkey

* Corresponding Author: Nazife Sultanoglu. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mathematical Aspects of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics)

Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences 2021, 128(2), 717-729. https://doi.org/10.32604/cmes.2021.016297

Received 24 February 2021; Accepted 10 April 2021; Issue published 22 July 2021

Abstract

Northern Cyprus has implemented relatively strict measures in the battle against the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The measures were introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in order to prevent the spread of the disease. One of these measures was the use of two separate real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) tests for SARS-CoV-2 referred to as the double screening procedure, which was adopted following the re-opening of the sea, air and land borders for passengers after the first lockdown. The rRT-PCR double screening procedure involved reporting a negative rRT-PCR test which was carried in 72 to 120 h before departure whilst presenting no known symptoms of the COVID-19 and performing a second rRT-PCR test at the point of arrival. This study compares the results of SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR tests performed on incoming flight passengers from the 1 July to 9 of September 2020 to Northern Cyprus. The rRT-PCR test results collected by the Near East University (NEU) DESAM COVID-19 laboratory were compared with the rRT-PCR test results collected by the Ministry of Health and/or private COVID-19 laboratories in Northern Cyprus. This comparative study was conducted using binomial distribution. In addition, by applying the Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Removed (SEIR) model to Northern Cyprus, overall basic reproduction number value of the COVID-19 was analysed for the same time period to act as a threshold for this comparison. In both the statistical and SEIR mathematical model, was calculated. It was assumed that, the more similar the results of NEU DESAM COVID-19 laboratory and other laboratories were with the overall value of Northern Cyprus, the more reliable the results would be. We calculated that the median values of the NEU DESAM COVID-19 laboratory and other laboratories performing the SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR on air passengers during the studied period to be 0.96 and 1.29, respectively, compared to Northern Cyprus median value which was 0.99. The rRT-PCR screening results from the NEU DESAM COVID-19 laboratory were closely aligned with the screening results of Northern Cyprus whereas the screening results reported by other laboratories were not in a fit with the regional pattern. This study also aimed to point out the importance of the rRT-PCR screening procedure since asymptomatic positive SARS-CoV-2 cases entery to Northern Cyprus was inhibited and this prevented the spread of the disease within the population.

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