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Dal researchers help develop wastewater test that could act as an early warning sign for COVID‑19 outbreaks

- October 22, 2020

Central to the approach is the idea that wastewater could alert officials to the presence of the virus either before someone develops symptoms or receives a positive test result or if they are asymptomatic. (Danny Abriel photo)
Central to the approach is the idea that wastewater could alert officials to the presence of the virus either before someone develops symptoms or receives a positive test result or if they are asymptomatic. (Danny Abriel photo)

Researchers at ɫֱ have helped in the development of a rapid test to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater -- an unexpected resource that is becoming a valuable sentinel in the global fight to contain the virus before it is able to spread.

Amina Stoddart,an assistant professor in the Department ofCivil and Resource Engineering, is leading a projectwith colleagues Graham Gagnon and Rob Jamiesonto develop a wastewater-based surveillance approach forCOVID-19.

They are working with Halifax Water and LuminUltraTechnologies, a Canadian biotechnology company which recently filed a patent for the first complete rapid, on-site COVID-19 wastewater testing solution.

Central to the approach is the idea that wastewater could alert officials to the presence of the virus either before someone develops symptoms or receives a positive test result or if they are asymptomatic.

“Wastewater testing has been shown to lead to early identification of the virus before it is known in a clinical context – the potential benefit could help Public Health leaders with additional information for decisions concerning the pandemic,” said Dr. Stoddart.

“Public health leaders around the world have validated that wastewater testing is a powerful tool in the fight against the pandemic, and global research leaders have demonstrated the benefits of testing human waste in controlled populations. We are very pleased to continue ɫֱ’s long-standing research relationship with LuminUltra to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Halifax and beyond.”

SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected in waste


Thegenetic code,or RNA,fromSARS-CoV-2 has beenfoundinthefeces ofpeopleinfectedwith the virusandit is known thatthe particles survive longer in the gastrointestinal tract than in the respiratory tract.Because of that, wastewater may be monitored for SARS-CoV-2 to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 infections in a given population.

InSpain, for example, researchersdetected COVID-19 in 83 per cent of untreated wastewater samplesbeforeinitial cases were reported in the region.

Ultimately, the innovation in the RNA extraction and concentration process resulting from the team’s research has eliminated the need for additional complicated equipment, greatly simplifying the process from sample collection to result.

“Halifax Wateris pleased to beapartner inthis important research project. Itisa natural extension ofourhistory ofsupportinginnovativeresearchin water and wastewaterfor the benefit of customersand the environment,” says Halifax WaterGeneral Manager Cathie O’Toole.

LuminUltraTechnologies has developed a range of Environmental Monitoring Solutions to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in environments, including surfaces, air, water andwastewater. They are the developer of theGeneCountqPCR system, which allows customers to do rapid, on-site environmental testing.

“The idea of wastewater surveillance testing has been advocated by researchers around the world since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Pat Whalen, president and CEO of LuminUltra.

“Until now, wastewater testing has been complicated, expensive and time consuming – meaning the potentially life-saving technique was reserved for niche subgroups under the watchful eye of researchers. We have been determined to make this surveillance tool more accessible to communities everywhere, allowing for a game-changing early warning of COVID-19 infections.”

Leading-edge research and training


The team will quantify the SARS- CoV-2 load in the raw wastewater with the goal of identifying occurrence in the community. The collaborative work itself has both immediate and long-term benefits, says Dr. Gagnon.

“I am very pleased that the partnership between LuminUltra and ɫֱ has led to this innovation, but extraordinarily proud that the partnership has fostered leading-edge research training opportunities for post-docs and graduate students, like Dr. Ana Luisa Parra (post-doctoral fellow), Emalie Hayes (MASc student), and Rishab Monga (BEng Coop student)at ɫֱ,” he said.

LuminUltra’s wastewater testing solution allows communities and controlled populations to analyze overall population health, rather than relying solely on single-patient clinical tests to determine if there is an infection of COVID-19 present or a surge in cases. The City of Moncton, N.B., has recently begun collecting wastewater samples to evaluate the potential of using the technology as a predictive index in the management of COVID-19 and public health messaging.

“LuminUltra has supported research at ɫֱ for over a decade and this latest innovation is a shining example of the great work that has occurred over this time,” says Dr. Gagnon.

The wastewater research builds upon a long-standing water research partnership that has been in place since 2007 between ɫֱ and Halifax Water through the NSERC Halifax Water Industrial Research Chair. This partnership has developed industry leading research on Lead Service Line Replacements and other water quality improvements.

Their findings will be shared withtheNSHAtopotentiallyhelp it make public health decisions related to identifying theextent of infection in Nova Scotia, earlydetectionof subsequent waves of the virus and informing the safe lifting of social and economic restrictions.

Samples willinitiallybe collected fromHalifax Waterwastewater treatment facilities inDartmouth and Halifax, with the possibility that the project could be expanded throughout the province. The team willquantify the SARS- CoV-2 load in the raw wastewaterwith the goal ofidentifyingoccurrence in the community.

Last March,Halifax Waterand Dr. Stoddart were awarded athree-yearNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)Collaborative ResearchandDevelopmentgrant worth $1 millionto support wastewater research focused on surveillance and treatment strategy development.The wastewaterresearch buildsupon along-standingwater research partnershipthat has been in place since 2007between ɫֱ and Halifax Waterthrough the NSERCHalifax WaterIndustrial Research Chair.

This partnership has developed industry leading research on Lead Service Line Replacements and other water qualityimprovemeThis researchwillimproveourunderstanding of the magnitude of total carriers of the SARS-CoV-2 virusat the community level and may lead to wastewater surveillance for other health concerns and future pandemics,” says Dr. Stoddart.