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Back Wastewater monitoring for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the Slovak Republic – progress on 35th calendar week - RT-PCR and ddPCR analysis

Monitoring of wastewater in the Slovak Republic for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus was launched on 02.05. 2021 (i.e. 18th calendar week) and it is performed regularly on a weekly basis in each region of the Slovak Republic. From January 2022, we gradually started the second phase of the wastewater monitoring project, where monitoring is being expanded in several districts. So far, 62 WWTPs have participated in the Slovak Republic.

The presence of virus in wastewater samples is determined by RT-PCR and digital dd-PCR. Samples are taken in cooperation with individual operators of wastewater treatment plants, regional public health authorities and investigated in the NRC at the Public Health Authority of Slovak Republic.

By the 35th calendar week, a total of 2075 samples were examined by a qualitative and quantitative method, of which 2042 (98,41 %) samples were positive or with limit values.

On 35th calendar week 2022, 48 samples were examined. The presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected in all of them, of which 32 samples (66,67 %) showed an increase in the number of SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies, in the other 16 samples the number of copies remained unchanged or decreased.

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On the 35th calendar week, we noticed a slight increase in the number of RNA copies of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in quantitative examinations.

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Monitoring of the viral load in wastewater in individual regions points to a slight increase in Trenčín, Žilina, Nitra and Banská Bystrica region.

On the 35th calendar week, we observed a slightly increase in SARS-CoV-2 RNA copy number in wastewater and a slight increase in incidence.

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Conclusion: The analysis of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater in Slovakia corresponds with the epidemiological situation.