SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance in Hospital Wastewater: CLEIA vs. RT-qPCR

The utilization of wastewater as a community surveillance method grew during the COVID-19 epidemic. hospitalizations are closely connected with viral signals, and increases in signals can serve an early warning indication for rising hospital admissions. While reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is most often used approach detecting SARS-CoV-2 wastewater, chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLEIA) alternative automated method. In two assays, 92 grab samples from were investigated presence SARS-CoV-2, expected continuous monitoring surveillance. One was RT-qPCR nucleic acid test, another CLEIA assay antigen test. 24/92 (26.09%) samples, identified at least genes (ORF1ab, N, or S genes). CLEIA, on other hand, detected 39/92 (42.39%) samples. demonstrated low sensitivity specificity 54.2% (95% CI: 44.0–64.3%) 61.8% 51.8–71.7%), respectively, compared to RT-qPCR. κ coefficient indicated slight agreement between assay. Then, cannot replace molecular-based testing like RT PCR determining wastewater.