Open AccessSARS-CoV-2 detection in sewage samples: Standardization of method & preliminary observations
Author(s) -
Deepa Kailash Sharma,
Uma P. Nalavade,
Kamlesh Kalgutkar,
Nivedita Gupta,
Jagadish M. Deshpande
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
indian journal of medical research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.578
H-Index - 87
ISSN - 0971-5916
DOI - 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_3541_20
Subject(s) - sewage , virology , covid-19 , polyethylene glycol , peg ratio , virus , real time polymerase chain reaction , medicine , chromatography , biology , veterinary medicine , chemistry , environmental science , environmental engineering , gene , infectious disease (medical specialty) , biochemistry , disease , finance , economics
Since its first recognition in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, the SARS-CoV-2 has spread rapidly across the world. Though SARS-CoV-2 spreads mainly via the droplets of respiratory secretions, it was also detected in stool samples of patients, indicating active infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in sewage samples was reported in February 2020, raising the possibility of using environmental water surveillance to monitor SARS-CoV-2 activity in infected areas. The aim of this study was to standardize the methodology for detection of SARS-CoV-2 from sewage and explore the feasibility of establishing supplementary surveillance for COVID-19.