Analytical Reporter May/ June 2021

Page 14

14 Issue 3 2021

COVID-19 news, diagnostics & instrumentation

Waterlab in Partnership with KWR Research Institute in the Netherlands to optimise methods for early detection of the Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in communities

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aterlab, a local water and soil analysis laboratory based in Pretoria, South Africa is proud to be part of an international collaboration with KWR Research Institute in the Netherlands. The collaborative project WASTEWATER4COVID connects South Africa and the Netherlands through the Eureka programme ‘Solutions for COVID-19 echo period – life without vaccines’. The project is led by Waterlab in South Africa, in partnership with the University of Pretoria with funding by the Department of Science and Innovation though the Eureka programme. The collaborating organisations in the Netherlands include the KWR Water Research Institute and Royal Haskoning DHV, and a Public-Private Partnership between Waternet and Blue Deal - both public organisations. The WASTEWATER4COVID project aims to develop and implement a method for early detection of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) through sampling and analysing water from specific locations in the urban water cycle. The method will be implemented in both South Africa and The Netherlands simultaneously, allowing comparison of two different contexts. By combining wastewater data (under the ground) with epidemiological data (above the ground), the method can inform health authorities about the virus’s distribution, support them in their monitoring efforts and assist with an effective outbreak response. Early in the pandemic, the KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands demonstrated that genetic traces of SARSCoV-2 in sewage correlated with COVID-19 disease trends in the population, indicating that wastewater surveillance can serve as an early warning of SARS-CoV-2 community transmission (Medema et al., 2020). In South Africa, Waterlab conducted a proof-of-concept study funded by the Water Research Commission for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA in wastewater as well as rivers as an indicator

of viral load in the associated communities, both sewered and non-sewered. Testing and implementing this method in South Africa and The Netherlands simultaneously, allows for comparison of two different contexts. When combined with epidemiological information, the analysed and visualised data will support health authorities in their monitoring efforts and assist in informing an effective outbreak response.

Specialist consultant Leanne Coetzee from Waterlab

Specialist consultant Dr Gina Pocock from Waterlab

The primary outcomes of the WASTEWATER4COVID project will be: • Community-wide test capacity in both countries of wastewater sources • Assessment and improvement of existing methods for coronavirus detection in water sources • Strategies to scale-up monitoring programmes to provide statistically representative information • Data analysis and visualisation instruments for virus circulation in communities to support health decision-making. “We are extremely proud to be a part of the Eureka programme as it not only positions South Africa on the international stage when it comes to capabilities in science and technology but more importantly, early detection of the SARSCoV-2 virus in communities performs a vital role in the fight against the pandemic,” comments Dr Gina Pocock, Microbiologist and Specialist Consultant at Waterlab. This comes as the world marks World Water Day, which took place on 22 March 2021. With close to 40 years’ experience in the industry, Waterlab is a specialist in analytical chemistry, providing services in the various disciplines of water, being potable water supply, sewage treatment, industrial effluents, acid mine drainage or underground water.

WATERLAB Tel: 012 249 1044/66 gina@waterlab.co.za www.waterlab.co.za

Proudly SA anti-viral textile solution launches to fight COVID-19

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roactive Alchemy has launched a certified, antiviral textile solution, which de-activates COVID-19 and other viral pathogens on contact, providing unparalleled protection and setting a new industry benchmark for medical-grade PPE for multi-industry use. This is according to Kenny Tennant, CEO of Proactive Alchemy, which specialises in anti-viral solutions, who says the firm’s new anti-viral, lint-free, textile range has been 16 years in the making. The firm collaborated with German-based chemistry company Rudolf Chemicals, which has 90 years’ experience as a manufacturer of products for textile finishing and construction chemistry. “We took their Silverplus antiviral chemical product and correlated this with other chemical ingredients from other chemistry industry specialists and tweaked the chemistry formula together and partnered with yarn experts to formulate our own final anti-viral stand-alone product.” Proudly SA anti-viral textile solution “It was evident that using any launches to fight COVID-19 cotton, viscose based or cotton/ viscose polyester mixture based fabrics posed a huge disease and viruses to both treated and transmission factor and this was lint, untreated (control) fabrics. loose fibres that are shed by cotton and It was proved to prevent further viscose and most natural fibres,” he growth of the pathogens on the treated explains. “Pathogens adhere to these fabric and stopped it from replicating microscopic fibres and are one of the and died off, whereas on the untreated major causes of disease transfer and fabrics the pathogens kept cross-contamination.” multiplying unabated. “Therefore, we had to have a fabric Furthermore, tests were done on TB that was lint-free, breathable and have and pneumonia strains both viral as the correct porosity to allow chemical well as bacterial and they found the adherence efficiency that worked on a same successful results. long-term cycle with regular daily “Because we can confidently say washing and this fabric was 100% that pathogens are unable to be polyester,” he adds. transmitted using our specially treated “We then engaged with a local fabric fabric, we consider this product not supplier who tweaked his weaving only important in the medical field but process to achieve this and ensure the also in the food and meat processing chemical mixes, dyes and fabric all industries, where many Pathogens such worked together.” as Listeriosis, Avon flu, Swine flu etc. He says the textile product’s rapid are rife.” anti-viral effect immediately kills virus Industry application examples particles with its anti-viral capabilities include medical, FMCG, using silver chloride and their secret pharmaceutical, laboratories, chemistry components. hospitality, and industrial. To correlate the findings on their All Silverplus products can be antiviral claims, Proactive Alchemy washed multiple times and are RUCO @ engaged with various institutions both Bac AGP certified. Products include in the textile field as well as the virology personal masks, scrubs, aprons, field to firstly correlate the findings of medical gowns, hair bouffant and shoe the chemical composition and then covers, medical curtains, uniforms etc. further ensure that its solution was in “In addition to our fabrics being fact still effective to all the other treated with anti-bacterial and antiattributes that required it to be. microbial technology they also come According to Tennant, full lengthy with fluid repellent and flame-retardant laboratory tests were then done in finishes,” he concludes. controlled environments by laboratory For more information visit: technicians applying bacteria, microbes https://proactivealchemy.com/


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