Development and optimization of a portable COVID-19 detection device for wastewater applications

测量废水中的SARS-CoV-2RNA为管理机构提供有关其社区面临的潜在新冠肺炎风险的关键信息。在快速准确地检测这些事件的能力方面，快速监测工具正变得越来越重要。FREDense Technologies Corp.(FREDense)是一家总部位于加拿大阿尔伯塔省卡尔加里的加拿大公司，专门开发创新的水质现场检测试剂盒。与弗莱明学院水和废水技术促进中心(CAWT)合作，这一应用研究项目将侧重于优化FREDense用于检测废水中SARS-CoV-2病毒的最新技术。这一应用研究项目将首先专注于建立该设备在纯净水中的病毒检测能力，然后再在真实世界的废水样本中建立病毒检测能力。随着项目的进展和数据的分析，将对该装置提出建议和改进，以提高检测能力以及识别和纠正废水中发现的干扰物质的性能。该装置的性能将与标准的和广泛使用的RT-qPCR方法进行比较。这些结果将使FREDense进一步开发和改进他们的技术，并加快他们的市场进入计划。

Measuring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater provides critical information to governing agencies on the potential COVID-19 risks their communities face. Rapid monitoring tools are becoming increasingly important in the ability to detect these occurrences quickly and accurately. FREDsense Technologies Corp. (FREDsense) is a Canadian company based out of Calgary, Alberta, specializing in the development of innovative water quality field testing kits. In collaboration with Fleming College's Centre for Advancement of Water and Wastewater Technologies (CAWT) this applied research project will focus on the optimization of FREDsense's newest technology used to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater. This applied research project will first focus on establishing the device's virus detection capabilities in pure water and then in real world wastewater samples. As the project progresses and data is analyzed, recommendations and modifications to the device will be made to improve performance in terms of detection capacity, as well as identifying and correcting for interfering substances found in wastewater. The device's performance will be compared to the standard and widely used RT-qPCR method. These results will allow FREDsense to further develop and refine their technology and accelerate their market entry plans.