Local biotech improves wastewater COVID-19 detection

Fitchburg-based Promega Corp. has developed improved methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater, data that can help forecast COVID-19 surges before symptoms appear, according to a Wisconsin State Journal report. While wastewater detection of illnesses is not a new practice, Promega has developed tools to allow health authorities and labs to detect COVID-19 in samples within a matter of hours compared to nearly half a day with other methods. The Promega-developed advances in the test include a purification method that can capture the genetic information of the virus directly.