CU Boulder Wastewater Testing Detects Coronavirus

BOULDER, CO — Wastewater testing at the University of Colorado Boulder has detected the coronavirus in four residence halls. The virus was found in samples from Darley North, Darley South, Libby Hall and Willard Hall, university officials said.

All students and staff at the four halls were required to undergo testing after the sample results were announced Monday.

"Based on testing and contract tracing efforts and prevalence of positive COVID-19 cases, we will work with our public health partners to make decisions about isolation or quarantine as necessary," CU Boulder said in a letter to students, faculty and staff.

Don't miss the latest coronavirus updates from health and government officials in Boulder: Free Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook | Twitter

Between 40 and 80 percent of those infected shed the SARS-COV-2 virus that causes COVID-19, CU Boulder researchers said. What people flush down the toilet can contain the virus, which can then be detected by the university's new wastewater monitoring network.

The system includes 23 sewer sampling stations, each tested by students and microbiologists.

The project can provide an early warning by detecting infections almost a week before someone with COVID-19 might show symptoms and need to seek medical attention.

While the system can't identify individual people, the monitoring can narrow down a potential infection from a sampling location. Individual testing resources can then be deployed to a specific residence hall or be recommended for certain groups of students — catching and isolating the virus before it can spread throughout the community, the university said.