METHOD OF MONITORING COVID-19 MORBIDITY WITH THE USE OF WASTEWATER ANALYSIS Russian patent published in 2021 - IPC C12Q1/70 C12Q1/6806 G01N33/18 G01N33/569 

FIELD: virology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of virology. Disclosed is a method for monitoring COVID-19 morbidity. According to the method, it’s necessary to determine a correction factor (m) representing a lower limit for determining the morbidity rate and monitoring COVID-19 morbidity. To determine m, aliquots of fecal samples of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 are taken and diluted with model wastewater to obtain samples № 1 .... No p. Samples № 1 .... No p undergo a serial dilution until the lower limit of determination of the real-time RT-PCR method is reached. After that the arithmetic mean value of the maximum degrees of dilution is averaged and calculated. The correction factor m is defined as the ratio of 100 to the arithmetic mean. RNA is isolated from wastewater samples with the purpose of monitoring. The samples are analyzed for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viral particles. If the result is negative, the morbidity rate is 0%. If the result is positive, serial dilutions of wastewater samples are prepared until the lower limit of determination of the real-time RT-PCR method is reached. After that the maximum degree of dilution of wastewater (k) is determined. The value ​​of the morbidity rate of COVID-19 (N,%) is calculated in accordance with the formula N = k * m.

EFFECT: improved accuracy of results and reduced duration of sample analysis.

1 cl, 2 ex, 5 dwg