COVID

COVID-19

Duke University building level pathogen surveillance

In spring 2021 we partnered with Duke Facilities and with the Gunsch Lab to pilot a study of wastewater-based COVID-19 surveillance on three residence halls on Duke Campus. The pilot aimed to assess the wastewater sampling approach and compare its sensitivity to the existing nasal-swab-based surveillance program. The immediate goals were to define installation and maintenance best practices and to assess published analytical protocols. The workflow included daily 24-hours composite wastewater samples collection and specimen concentration by membrane filtration. Then RNA was extracted and virus quantification obtained by PCR; a number of process controls were included in the workflow. 

Outcomes from the research were published in Science of The Total Environment.

Covid-19 Wastewater Methods Dashboard

The Wastewater Methods Dashboard project aimed to summarize and organize methods that had been reported to detect SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-2) in wastewater around the world. It was meant to be a quick resource for researchers and for those who are interested in identifying potential partnerships. Results included peer-reviewed papers and preprints. Additional resources and dashboards on SARS-CoV-2 wastewater protocols listed below.

COVID-19 WBE Collaborative - A network of global experts sharing publications and resources to further COVID-19 wastewater based epidemiological research. 

COVIDPoops19 Dashboard - A summary of global SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring efforts compiled by the University of California, Merced.

The Wastewater Dashboard was supported by the Duke Sanitation Technology Cluster (OPP1173370) from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.