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By Brian Konrad

Researchers sampling waste water in Medicine Hat

Waste water provides method of early detection of COVID 19

Mar 4, 2021 | 10:41 AM

MEDICINE HAT — Researchers at the University of Alberta are looking for evidence of COVID 19, in samples of waste water from the Medicine Hat Waste Water Treatment plant.

This kind of research is not unique, as similar studies are underway across Alberta, as well as in Vancouver and Saskatoon.

They’ve found they are able to predict trends five to seven days sooner than other testing methods used for the virus.

Project leader Dr Xiaoli Lilly Pang says that’s because not every person who gets infected will show symptoms, or get tested.

“Our waste water, we are able to identify all those people who are infected with or without symptoms and also pre-symptom” says Dr Pang, who is a virologist with the provincial Public Health laboratory and a professor with the University of Alberta.

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Pang says this gives them some idea of early detection of the virus, which she says is no longer alive in the waste water.

3 samples from Medicine Hat are tested on a weekly basis, and Pang says their results have correlated well with the clinically confirmed cases so far.