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Curious about the University of Arizona catching a dorm-based coronavirus outbreak, before it happen, & stopping it — by sampling wastewater?
UArizona;s Don Pepper, a microbiologist helping run the program, gave details in a press conference today.
Strap in. This is cool stuff.
UArizona;s Don Pepper, a microbiologist helping run the program, gave details in a press conference today.
Strap in. This is cool stuff.
2/ First, a reminder of the basics.
@UArizona is testing wastewater from 20 buildings on campus for coronavirus — especially dorms — in an effort to detect infections before they become outbreaks.
@UArizona is testing wastewater from 20 buildings on campus for coronavirus — especially dorms — in an effort to detect infections before they become outbreaks.
3/ Tuesday, wastewater from Likins Hall tested positive. Followup tests on the wastewater confirmed the positive test.
Wednesday, all 311 residents of Likins got antigen quick-tests — & 2 residents were positive (but asymptomatic).
Those 2 students are in a quarantine dorm now.
Wednesday, all 311 residents of Likins got antigen quick-tests — & 2 residents were positive (but asymptomatic).
Those 2 students are in a quarantine dorm now.
4/ Here& #39;s some detail Ian Pepper provided.
The wastewater from Likins Hall was tested again after the students were isolated — it& #39;s now negative for coronavirus. So, at least preliminarily, those two students didn& #39;t spread the virus to anyone else in the dorm.
The wastewater from Likins Hall was tested again after the students were isolated — it& #39;s now negative for coronavirus. So, at least preliminarily, those two students didn& #39;t spread the virus to anyone else in the dorm.
5/ Testing of the samples is labor intensive & demanding—it& #39;s PCR testing, just like on samples from nasal swabs.
Samples taken from manholes at 8:30 am. Results back about 5:30 pm.
Pepper & his colleagues at @UArizona& #39;s WEST water research center process the tests in-house.
Samples taken from manholes at 8:30 am. Results back about 5:30 pm.
Pepper & his colleagues at @UArizona& #39;s WEST water research center process the tests in-house.
6/ Side tidbit for water and wastewater geeks:
UArizona& #39;s WEST water research center is, literally, co-located on Pima County& #39;s Agua Nueva wastewater treatment plant. The research center, labs, students and professors are right there at the sewage treatment plant!
UArizona& #39;s WEST water research center is, literally, co-located on Pima County& #39;s Agua Nueva wastewater treatment plant. The research center, labs, students and professors are right there at the sewage treatment plant!
7/ The testing is not cheap. $150 per test — labor + reagents.
UArizona is sampling each of 20 buildings 2x a week, including the student union.
Some buildings, even some dorms, they wanted to sample — the logistics or the plumbing made it difficult or impossible.
UArizona is sampling each of 20 buildings 2x a week, including the student union.
Some buildings, even some dorms, they wanted to sample — the logistics or the plumbing made it difficult or impossible.
