Wastewater Testing for COVID

Why test Waste Water for SARS-CoV-2?

Waste water represents often an entire community or a large part of a education facility or company and this could be used as an indicator of the disease spreading in a community as several studies have already shown to be possible. This approach is being used for local authorities, schools, universities and companies, a continuous monitoring of the wastewater will show if there is an outbreak. Waste water testing is a great tool to monitor whether SARS-CoV-2 has appeared or re-appeared in a certain environment. Indeed, Clinical PCR tests are only viable 4 days after the patient has been infected. Waste water testing allows this detection from Day 1. After a positive case has been detected, appropriate measures can then be taken to manage the outbreak.

How are the samples taken?

A flow-proportional sampling or time dependent over 24 hours. ISO 5667-10:2004 provided a good guidance. The autosampler samples can be stored up to 5 days at 4°C. The 24 hour composite sample should then be homogenised, and a 500ml sample taken from the composite sample container. The samples are then packed with cooling elements in cooling boxes and shipped to the laboratory. Transportation should be performed below 4°C and temperature should be logged. It is recommended not to freeze the samples.

Instrumentation to allow correct sampling.

Option 1 -The ISCO GLS Sampler is designed to collect composite samples for general purpose monitoring. It holds a 1- or 2.5-gallon sample bottle and with an overall diameter is only 16.5 inches (41.9 cm), the GLS fits easily into manholes as small as 18 inches (45.7 cm), and also easily drops into most offset manholes. Flow-proportion sampling is also possible via an external flow meter connected to the samplers input cable port. Refrigeration is provided passively via cooling elements are the sampler bottles.
Option 2 - The Glacier?Sampler combines the small size, light weight, and mobility of a portable with an exclusive active temperature control system. Its revolutionary design gives you the best of all worlds: easy transport, quick setup, and accurate sample preservation?at 4°C. In the field, Glacier delivers 48 hours or more of refrigeration from a 12 volt deep cycle battery.
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