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Journal article
Reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 methods to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 genetic signal in raw wastewater: findings from an interlaboratory methods evaluation in the US
Environmental science water research & technology, v 7(3), pp 504-520
01 Mar 2021
PMID: 34017594
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
In response to COVID-19, the international water community rapidly developed methods to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 genetic signal in untreated wastewater. Wastewater surveillance using such methods has the potential to complement clinical testing in assessing community health. This interlaboratory assessment evaluated the reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 standard operating procedures (SOPs), divided into eight method groups based on sample concentration approach and whether solids were removed. Two raw wastewater samples were collected in August 2020, amended with a matrix spike (betacoronavirus OC43), and distributed to 32 laboratories across the U.S. Replicate samples analyzed in accordance with the project's quality assurance plan showed high reproducibility across the 36 SOPs: 80% of the recovery-corrected results fell within a band of +/- 1.15 log(10) genome copies per L with higher reproducibility observed within a single SOP (standard deviation of 0.13 log(10)). The inclusion of a solids removal step and the selection of a concentration method did not show a clear, systematic impact on the recovery-corrected results. Other methodological variations (e.g., pasteurization, primer set selection, and use of RT-qPCR or RT-dPCR platforms) generally resulted in small differences compared to other sources of variability. These findings suggest that a variety of methods are capable of producing reproducible results, though the same SOP or laboratory should be selected to track SARS-CoV-2 trends at a given facility. The methods showed a 7 log(10) range of recovery efficiency and limit of detection highlighting the importance of recovery correction and the need to consider method sensitivity when selecting methods for wastewater surveillance.
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Details
- Title
- Reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 methods to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 genetic signal in raw wastewater: findings from an interlaboratory methods evaluation in the US
- Creators
- SARS-CoV-2 Interlab Consortium (Collaboration)Brian M. Pecson - Trussell Technologies Inc., Oakland, California, USA.Emily Darby - Trussell Technologies Inc., Oakland, California, USA.Charles N. Haas - Drexel UniversityYamrot M. Amha - Trussell Technologies Inc., Pasadena, California, USA.Mitchel Bartolo - Cascade TechnologiesRichard Danielson - Cel Analytical Inc., San Francisco, California, USA.Yeggie Dearborn - Cel Analytical Inc., San Francisco, California, USA.George Di Giovanni - Metropolitan Water District of Southern CaliforniaChristobel Ferguson - Water Research FoundationStephanie Fevig - Water Research FoundationErica Gaddis - Utah Society for Environmental EducationDonald Gray - East Bay Municipal Util Dist, Oakland, CA USAGeorge Lukasik - BCS Laboratories Inc., Gainesville, Florida, USA.Bonnie Mull - BCS Laboratories Inc., Gainesville, Florida, USA.Liana Olivas - Trussell Technologies Inc., Pasadena, California, USA.Adam Olivieri - EOA Inc., Oakland, California, USA.Yan Qu - Trussell Technologies Inc., Pasadena, California, USA.
- Publication Details
- Environmental science water research & technology, v 7(3), pp 504-520
- Publisher
- Royal Soc Chemistry
- Number of pages
- 17
- Grant note
- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; CGIAR 5089 / Water Research Foundation
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000629315800002
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85101167603
- Other Identifier
- 991019168195604721
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- Web of Science research areas
- Engineering, Environmental
- Environmental Sciences
- Water Resources