Wastewater testing, or "wastewater quality indicators," are broad descriptions for the various testing methodologies used to measure water quality. Wastewater testing analyzes the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of wastewater, which now includes the novel virus, SARS-CoV-2, which is the virus that causes Covid-19.
SARS-CoV-2 is known to invade the gastrointestinal tract and, consequently, is extracted in human sold waste. The recently demonstrated ability to reliably identify and measure COVID-19 genetic material in untreated wastewater is one of the most exciting advances in Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE).
As schools and universities work to arrest the spread of Covid-19 and care for those infected, some university campuses use wastewater testing as a possible method for identifying and predicting outbreaks of Covid-19 in their facilities. This advance has put a powerful new tool in the hands of those trying to defeat the virus, giving schools the ability to detect potential outbreaks weeks earlier than conventional population monitoring.
Schools using wastewater-based epidemiology methods have shown the potential to detect COVID-19 in wastewater samples well in advance of an outbreak compared to individual students' testing. The information discovered by WBE can then be a trigger for the required mitigation initiatives and response plans by schools and universities, such as testing individuals, contact tracing, and quarantine.
Teledyne ISCO is paving the way with the use of portable refrigerated samplers to identify hot spots. The portable analyzer takes daily aliquots at sensitive locations to determine the characteristics and presence of the Coronavirus in parts per million quantities. By assessing the presence of SARS-CoV-2, researchers can predict COVID-19 flareups through a "Virus Radar" system.
Teledyne ISCO offers two popular portable samplers used on schools and campuses today: the portable Avalanche with powered refrigeration that is perfect for genetic material preservation and the Glacier with its 12-volt deep-cycle battery 48 + hours of unpowered refrigerated composite sampling.
Wastewater-based epidemiology efforts, using wastewater testing or wastewater quality indicators that incorporate these kinds of sampling instruments, are valuable in keeping schools open and keeping students safe.
For more information about Teledyne ISCO portable samplers in Florida, contact Instrument Specialties. Call them now at 407-324-7800 or visit their website at https://isisales.com.
