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Enabling SARS-CoV-2 Wastewater Surveillance Using an Integrated Microfluidic Chip
Mohammad Dehghan Banadaki1, Soroosh Torabi1, William D Strike2
1Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, United States.
Analytical Chemistry
|June 17, 2025
Summary
A new device simplifies infectious disease surveillance in wastewater, making wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) accessible for low-resource areas. This affordable, user-friendly platform enables rapid pathogen detection at the point-of-use.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Public health surveillance
- Point-of-care diagnostics
Background:
- Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a valuable tool for public health surveillance.
- Implementation challenges in low-resource settings include infrastructure and expertise limitations.
- Centralized laboratory dependence hinders rapid WBE deployment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, affordable, point-of-use device for WBE.
- To integrate nucleic acid concentration, extraction, and detection into a single platform.
- To overcome limitations of traditional WBE in resource-limited regions.
Main Methods:
- A concentration-extraction-identification device (CEID) was developed.
- Immiscible filtration assisted by surface tension (IFAST) for nucleic acid extraction.
- Colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for pathogen detection.
Main Results:
- Optimized CEID demonstrated efficient nucleic acid extraction with minimal inhibition.
- Achieved a SARS-CoV-2 detection limit of 113 Cp/mL in spiked wastewater.
- Successfully detected SARS-CoV-2 in a 6-week wastewater surveillance study, correlating with RT-qPCR.
Conclusions:
- The CEID is an affordable ($11/sample), user-friendly, and adaptable technology for WBE.
- This platform democratizes WBE, enhancing infectious disease surveillance in underserved areas.
- The CEID offers a scalable solution for global health security, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
