UC Berkeley researchers use an effective method for detecting the presence of the Coronavirus in wastewater flowing through municipal sewer systems. Wastewater testing will assist public policy makers in determining where and how to implement COVID-19 plans.
The UC Berkeley videos above show how the Teledyne ISCO sampler collects wastewater for COVID-19 detection in a real-world application.
Wastewater testing, also known as "wastewater quality indicators," refers to the various test methodologies used to assess water quality. These tests determine the physical, chemical, and biological properties of wastewater. In a single sample, wastewater naturally collects waste from hundreds to even millions of people. By drawing a representative sample of wastewater and analyzing it, you can gain a wealth of information that you would not be able to obtain by testing people individually.
The amount of viral matter in a community's wastewater could reveal the prevalence of COVID-19 in the population. This information initiates the necessary mitigation and response initiatives, such as individual testing, contract tracking, and quarantine. It also allows for collecting data on a cross-section of the population, allowing for the monitoring of large-scale public health solutions. However, detecting tiny virus particles in the wastewater that flows through our sewage pipes is problematic. It includes toilet water, sink water, shower water, and everything else that goes down the drain. Teledyne ISCO is pioneering the use of water samplers to detect virus evidence in sewage.
Teledyne ISCO is a leading manufacturer and supplier of rugged, dependable field-portable water quality monitoring instruments. Their automatic sampler readings analyze the Coronavirus characteristics and presence in parts per million quantities, which, compared to population numbers in a geographic area, aids in determining the presence and amount of virus in the wastewater.
The video link is here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwsRUw4y_dU.
The full article outlining UC Berkeley's initiative is here.
For more information about Teledyne ISCO samplers used for Covid detection in Western Pennsylvania, Northern Ohio, Western Maryland, and West Virginia contact Advance Instruments. Call 888-388-6446 or visit https://advanceinstruments.com.
