Wastewater-based toolbox for monitoring outbreaks and pandemics
Wastewater is a potential source of information for the prevalence of infections, such as SARS-CoV-2, in a population.
IVAs 100-lista 2021
This project aims to develop a wastewater-based method using ultrafiltration to provide an early-warning system for outbreaks and pandemics using less volume of wastewater. With our method we were able to analyze all population of Stockholm (approx. 1.5 M) in 24h using only six wastewater samples and detect the second and the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. This method offers a cheaper and quicker alternative to testing a large number of random individuals in a population and increases the national preparedness for the future pandemics.
(KTH/Science Life Lab and Karolinska Institute)