A Low-Cost, Portable Solution for Wastewater-Based Disease Surveillance

Researchers at Cranfield University have created a novel approach to detecting biomarkers in wastewater. This approach will allow the tracking of infectious diseases with a mobile phone's camera utilizing origami-paper sensors. The new test instrument is quick and inexpensive, and it has the potential to significantly alter the way public health responses are focused during pandemics in the future. The study has been published in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science.

Wastewater a Key Way to Track Infections

Assessing the prevalence of infectious diseases in populations can be done primarily through wastewater testing. To determine which regions currently have the highest infection rates, researchers collect samples from a variety of water treatment facilities across the nation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the technique was employed to monitor infection rates in communities and guide public health initiatives.

The sentinel sensors were developed under the direction of Zhugen Yang, a Professor of Biosensing and Environmental Health at Cranfield University. They expand on Zhugen's research from 2020 to create a test that uses a paper-based platform, a UV torch, or a mobile phone camera to detect SARS-CoV-2 (commonly known as COVID-19), influenza A, and influenza B in wastewater.

The most precise techniques for analyzing wastewater samples have been those involving the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which calls for centralized laboratories and skilled workers. In other words, samples are gathered, kept, and shipped to the lab location in a cold chain before being processed, which can be costly and take several days.

“Origami” Folded Paper-Based Test is Read by Mobile Phone

The new test procedure is quick, portable, and easy to use. Samples of wastewater are laid out on a sheet of paper with a wax print and folded "origami" style. Chemicals in the paper react with specific disease markers to produce a fluorescent color. Rapid data collection and result reading are possible when using a mobile phone camera.

Professor Yang created the novel technique as part of the nationwide COVID-19 wastewater monitoring initiative. Using the test, he conducted field tests at four quarantine hotels near Heathrow Airport in 2021, during the peak of the pandemic. The tests were run in the basement of one of the hotels with little equipment, so the entire sample-to-answer process took less than 90 minutes, as opposed to four hours for a PCR test.

According to the findings, this new tool can detect diseases in the community early and yields results that are at least as accurate as PCR tests, all for a much lower price. Due to its low cost, quick results, and ease of use, this device is especially helpful in areas where resources are limited.

During COVID-19 we proved that fast community sewage analysis is a really effective way to track infectious diseases and help manage public health. The simple test we have developed costs just £1 and uses the commonly available camera function in a mobile phone, making it readily accessible. This could be a real game-changer when it comes to predicting disease rates and improving public health in the face of future pandemics.

Zhugen Yang, Professor, Department of Biosensing and Environmental Health, Cranfield University

The gadget has been showcased at the London Science Museum in acknowledgment of its role in the National Wastewater Surveillance Programme amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. 

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council grant and the Leverhulme Trust Research Leadership Scheme are funding the test's further development. Antimicrobial resistance from a health perspective could be monitored, and new variants could be tracked and used to determine whether they are still spreading in the community.

Journal Reference:

Pan, Y., et al. (2024) Paper microfluidic sentinel sensors enable rapid and on-site wastewater surveillance in community settings. Cell Reports Physical Science. doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.102154