In search of practical and affordable tools for wastewater-based surveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), three independent field experiments were conducted using three passive sampler sorbents (electronegative membrane, cotton bud, and gauze) in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Total daily cases during this study ranged from 2 to 17/100,000 people and 43/54 traditionally collected wastewater samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 with mean detectable concentrations ranging from 8.4 to 1780 copies/ml. Viral levels on the passive samplers were assessed after 4, 8, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hrs of deployment in the wastewater and 43/54 membrane, 42/54 gauze, and 27/54 cotton bud samples were positive. A linear accumulation rate of SARS-CoV-2 on the membranes was observed up to 48 hours, suggesting the passive sampler could adequately reflect wastewater levels for up to two days of deployment. Due the variability in accumulation observed for the cotton buds and gauzes, and the pre-processing steps required for the gauzes, we recommend membrane filters as a simple cost-effective option for wastewater-based surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.

为了寻找实用且负担得起的工具来监测严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2 (SARS-CoV-2) 的废水，使用三种被动采样器吸附剂（负电膜、棉签和纱布）在圭尔夫进行了三项独立现场实验，加拿大安大略省。本研究期间每日病例总数为 2 至 17/100,000 人，43/54 个传统收集的废水样本呈 SARS-CoV-2 阳性，平均可检测浓度为 8.4 至 1780 拷贝/毫升。在废水中部署 4、8、24、48、72 和 96 小时后，对被动采样器上的病毒水平进行了评估，43/54 膜、42/54 纱布和 27/54 棉芽样本呈阳性。观察到膜上 SARS-CoV-2 的线性积累率长达 48 小时，这表明被动采样器可以在部署长达两天的时间内充分反映废水水平。由于观察到的棉签和纱布积累情况存在差异，以及纱布所需的预处理步骤，我们建议将膜过滤器作为基于废水的 SARS-CoV-2 监测的一种简单且经济高效的选择。