Some thoughts on wastewater (sewage) testing...
💩Usefulness?
Of most benefit when used in an area with no known cases. Lets us look for a signal that virus is somewhere in that region. Pop-up testing may then be deployed to get a better idea of the situation
💩Usefulness?
Of most benefit when used in an area with no known cases. Lets us look for a signal that virus is somewhere in that region. Pop-up testing may then be deployed to get a better idea of the situation
💩Mature technology?
Methods/usefulness still being evaluated.
What does a positive mean? How often are false negative/positives likely? Which PCR-based tests are best? What processes in place to confirm wastewater positive result & what response will that trigger if confirmed?
Methods/usefulness still being evaluated.
What does a positive mean? How often are false negative/positives likely? Which PCR-based tests are best? What processes in place to confirm wastewater positive result & what response will that trigger if confirmed?
💩Do all agree?
Full spectrum of responses to wastewater testing, from exuberance to dismissal. I think time and continued refinement of the methods will tell which was the best position. As with everything in this pandemic, we're learning many new things as we go.
Full spectrum of responses to wastewater testing, from exuberance to dismissal. I think time and continued refinement of the methods will tell which was the best position. As with everything in this pandemic, we're learning many new things as we go.
💩What does a positive result mean?
We do need to be aware of all the potential sources of virus that may pour into *that* wastewater pipe/plant. The result doesn't automatically mean community cases are walking about.
We do need to be aware of all the potential sources of virus that may pour into *that* wastewater pipe/plant. The result doesn't automatically mean community cases are walking about.
The source may be a hotel used for quarantine, a traveller passing through or ocean liners emptying their waste tanks at a 'pump ashore' facility along a coast.
There can be much more to interpreting positive results than meets the eye.
There can be much more to interpreting positive results than meets the eye.
💦I think we should be using this approach in places like NZ and Australia because we are mostly free of community COVID-19 transmission. We should use and keep refining the methods if needed & respond to any positive findings in context & alongside good public communication.
💦Wastewater testing is also useful for surveilling other viruses for example the enteroviruses or parechoviruses (I wish!). And for virus discovery where it has had worldwide success in the past.
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