Early detection of Omicron variant with wastewater surveillance

Due to a large number of mutations, it is hypothesised that this VOC may result in an increased risk of reinfection, and it is still not clear if vaccines are as effective against it. Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics continue to detect this variant, and several laboratories have reported that one of the three target genes is not present.

Based on clinical data trends and the emergence of this variant as a VOC, researchers are using the WBE approach to determine the presence of the Omicron variant in wastewater samples. This webinar aims to share the early successful detection and monitoring of the Omicron variant in wastewater and assist the international community in their efforts to use WBE to track the occurrence and spread of the Omicron variant. This webinar will present the latest methodology and approaches for detecting the Omicron variant in wastewater samples as part of WBE.

Co-Chairs:

Dr. Sudhir Pillay, Research Manager, Water Research Commission, South Africa

Dr. Banu Ormeci, Professor and Jarislowsky Chair in Water and Global Health, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Carleton University, Canada

**Webinar Resources ** Previous webinar on-demand: Traditional and molecular indicators to characterise sewage in WBE
Blog article: Variants, Wastewater-based epidemiology and data sharing Scientific journals articles: Droplet digital RT-PCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 signature mutations of variants of concern in wastewater Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 variant mutations (HV69-70, E484K/N501Y, del156-157/R158G, and Del143-145) in settled solids using digital RT-PCR V.3 SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater Settled Solids Is Associated with COVID-19 Cases in a Large Urban Sewershed High-Frequency, High-Throughput Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater Settled Solids at Eight Publicly Owned Treatment Works in Northern California Shows Strong Association with COVID-19 Incidence Panelists Prof. Joan Rose, https://www.canr.msu.edu/people/joan_rose Professor at Michigan State University, United States (moderator) Dr. Warish Ahmed, https://people.csiro.au/A/W/Warish-Ahmed Senior Research Scientist at Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia Dr. Gertjan Medema, https://www.kwrwater.nl/en/experts-expertises/experts/gertjan-medema/ Principal Microbiologist at KWR, the Netherlands Dr. Alexandria Boehm, https://cee.stanford.edu/person/alexandria-boehm Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, Stanford University, USA Dr. Aaron Bivins, https://www.linkedin.com/in/awbivins/ Assistant Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, USA Dr. Jesper Gamst https://www.linkedin.com/in/jesper-gamst-a835478/?originalSubdomain=dk Managing Director, Eurofins Environment Testing, Denmark

Universities, public and private research and testing laboratories, public health sector, municipalities, wastewater treatment plants.

After this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Gain an understanding of the use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for monitoring COVID-19
• Understand how to detect emerging variants of concern with WBE
• Understand Omicron variant detection in wastewater as it relates to observations from clinical samples