What is WBE and why is ddPCR technology such a good fit?
In recent years, public health officials have affirmed the need for robust methods capable of proactive detection of pathogens to alert to outbreaks and limit spread of disease. Longitudinal trend studies using wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and Droplet Digital™ PCR (ddPCR™) have been shown to be effective tools for these applications.
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The Past, Present, and Future of Wastewater-Based Epidemiology
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ddPCR Technology is An Ideal Tool for Wastewater-Based Epidemiology
Advantages of WBE:
- Provides community-wide temporal trends
- Near real-time data, depending on the analysis method
- Passive sample collection that does not require individual participation approval
Advantages of ddPCR technology for WBE monitoring:
- Fast analysis time
- Absolute quantification
- Sensitive enough to detect low copy numbers
- Tolerant to PCR inhibitors that are present in wastewater
Application-Specific Resources
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) and ddPCR technology are being used to address a broad set of health challenges, including SARS-CoV-2 (COVID), hMPXV, Influenza and RSV.
Additional Applications
Wastewater-based monitoring can test for other epidemiological pathogens. If it can be detected by PCR, wastewater monitoring with ddPCR technology could be applied.
