Wastewater testing is one of the best methods we have to track the spread of diseases like COVID-19 across large populations. For decades, municipalities have conducted testing at large wastewater facilities. This allows researchers to see big trends but presents a new challenge of understanding where to act.
At InnovaPrep, we create specialized tools that allow for individual building level testing. Recently, researchers at Columbia University used InnovaPrep tools to fast track their wastewater surveillance in a university-affiliated hospital in a three-year study.
By zooming in their wastewater testing to a hospital-building level with InnovaPrep tools, the Columbia team showed how wastewater surveillance can offer a more precise, actionable view of pathogen spread, allowing for targeted interventions right where they’re needed most.
Using advanced tools like the Concentrating Pipette™ and next-generation sequencing, the team fine-tuned their lab techniques and sampling schedule to get the most accurate picture possible with fast and reliable testing results. They collected samples frequently and matched them with patient data from electronic medical records. The result? Predictive models that could forecast spikes in COVID-19 cases up to a week before they showed up in clinical testing.
What made this even more impressive was how localized the data could get. By sampling different hospital quadrants—each with distinct patient populations—the researchers were able to spot unique viral trends in each area. That level of detail simply isn't possible with city-wide wastewater data.
Frequency proved critical in this study. With InnovaPrep tools, researchers were able to test wastewater for pathogens often enough to maintain strong correlations between wastewater data and actual case counts. The Columbia team found that at least three samples per week were needed for reliable insights. While that might sound like a lot, it’s still far more efficient and cost-effective than testing every individual patient.
On top of making it easy to test frequently, when researchers used InnovaPrep tools, they were able to detect new variants before they appeared in clinical samples. In buildings where getting accurate case numbers is tough, like mixed-use or non-residential spaces, even a simple “positive/negative” readout from wastewater proved useful for identifying times of high transmission.
This study makes a compelling case for scaling up building-level, non-municipal wastewater testing, especially in high-risk, high-traffic environments like hospitals. Not only does it help catch outbreaks early, but it also offers a smart, scalable alternative to labor-intensive clinical testing. InnovaPrep’s tools make this type of testing possible at scale, allowing municipalities to act faster to mitigate risk of spreading diseases.
When paired with digital health records, wastewater data becomes a powerful tool for managing infectious disease threats with speed and precision. The authors have expanded this research and are monitoring multiple targets, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria, to help mitigate hospital-acquired infections.
Read the Publication:
Hospital wastewater surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 identifies intra-hospital dynamics of viral transmission and evolution, Medini K. Annavajhala et al. MedRXiv 2025.
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