Testing specificity and sensitivity of wastewater-based epidemiology for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in four communities on Vancouver Island, Canada

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dc.contributor.authorMasri, Nadia Zeina
dc.contributor.authorCard, Kiffer George
dc.contributor.authorCaws, Emmanuelle A.
dc.contributor.authorBabcock, Alana
dc.contributor.authorPowell, Ryan
dc.contributor.authorLowe, Christopher J.
dc.contributor.authorDonovan, Shelley
dc.contributor.authorNorum, Shelley
dc.contributor.authorLyons, Shirley
dc.contributor.authorDe Pol, Sean
dc.contributor.authorKostenchuk, Lareina
dc.contributor.authorDorea, Caetano
dc.contributor.authorLachowsky, Nathan J.
dc.contributor.authorWillerth, Stephanie M.
dc.contributor.authorFyles, Thomas M.
dc.contributor.authorBuckley, Heather L.
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-25T22:10:09Z
dc.date.available2024-01-25T22:10:09Z
dc.date.copyright2022en_US
dc.date.issued2022
dc.descriptionThe authors gratefully acknowledge the active sampling and logistical support of the Capital Regional District (Crystal Fudge & McLoughlin Point/Saanich Peninsula WWTP operations staff) and the Regional District of Nanaimo, and the Vancouver Island Health Authority for providing epidemiological data. Scott Meschke (UWash), Ryan Ziels (UBC), Natalie Prystajecky (BCCDC), Melissa Glier (BCCDC), Kara Nelson (UC Berkeley) and their teams provided critical feedback in the early stages of methods development. Alana Babcock, Josie Chrenek, Rebecca Kircsh, Jacob Morris and Daniel Wallis provided essential technical support in sample processing. Benjamin McClennon and Gordon Wong assisted with scripting to semiautomate the retrieval of information from instrument results files.en_US
dc.description.abstractWe report wastewater surveillance of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 based upon 24-h composite influent samples taken weekly from four wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada between January 3, 2021 and July 10, 2021. Samples were analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction targeting the N1 and N2 gene fragments of SARS-CoV-2 and a region of the replication associate protein of the pepper mottle mosaic virus (PMMoV) serving as endemic control. Only a small proportion of samples had quantifiable levels of N1 or N2. Overall case rates are weakly correlated with the concentration (gene copies/L) and with the flux of viral material influent to the WWTP (gene copies/day); the latter accounts for influent flow variations. Poisson multimodal rank correlation accounts for differences between the four WWTP and shows a significant correlation with a significant positive intercept. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis confirms a cut-off of cases based on amplified/not-amplified experimental data. At the optimal cut point of 19 (N1) or 17 (N2) cases/week/100,000 the sensitivity and specificity is about 75% for N1 and 67% for N2.en_US
dc.description.reviewstatusRevieweden_US
dc.description.scholarlevelFacultyen_US
dc.description.sponsorshipFunding support from the COVID 19 research program of NSERC Alliance, and personnel support funding from Technation and Biotalent funding programs is also acknowledged. SMW acknowledges the support of the CRC program. KGC was supported by a Michael Smith Health Research BC Scholar Award [#SCH-2021-1547]. Equipment was purchased with a Canadian Foundation for Innovation John Evans Leaders Foundation Grant (HLB). The Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technologies provided facilities for the project.en_US
dc.identifier.citationMasri, N. Z., Card, K. G., Caws, E. A., Babcock, A., Powell, R., Lowe, C. J., ... Buckley, H. L. (2022). Testing specificity and sensitivity of wastewater-based epidemiology for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in four communities on Vancouver Island, Canada. Environmental Advances, 9, 100310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100310en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.envadv.2022.100310
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1828/15888
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherEnvironmental Advancesen_US
dc.subjectpQCR
dc.subjectSensitivity
dc.subjectSpecificity
dc.subjectWastewater-based epidemiology
dc.subjectWastewater surveillance
dc.subjectSARS-CoV-2
dc.subjectPaper mild mottle virus
dc.subjectCentre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC)
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Mechanical Engineering
dc.subject.departmentDepartment of Civil Engineering
dc.subject.departmentSchool of Medical Sciences
dc.subject.departmentSchool of Public Health and Social Policy
dc.titleTesting specificity and sensitivity of wastewater-based epidemiology for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in four communities on Vancouver Island, Canadaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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