Kontrol BioWater technology completes Phase 1 viral detection in wastewater
Toronto, Canada – Kontrol Technologies Corp., a provider in smart buildings and cities has completed its Phase 1 testing of the Kontrol BioWater technology (or “BioWater”) with a positive detection of the Sars-Cov-2 virus in wastewater.
“We are very pleased that our Kontrol BioWater technology was able to deliver a positive result as part of Phase 1 testing,” says Paul Ghezzi, CEO of Kontrol Technologies. “There is a growing emphasis on biomonitoring technology to help governments and private enterprise better manage how they monitor and plan for viral outbreaks. We look forward to advancing this important proprietary technology.”
Phase 1 testing
The Kontrol BioWater wastewater viral detection Phase 1 testing was completed with support from the National Research Council of Canada. The BioWater utilises the core scientific technique of a modified Western blot to identify viruses.
Kontrol was provided with wastewater samples from various facilities in Ontario. Those samples were independently tested by government contracted labs utilising the reference method of qPCR analysis to validate positive detection and quantification of the SARs-CoV-2 virus.
“We are thrilled with our successful Phase 1 testing and look forward to the next steps in building out the Kontrol BioWater technology,” says Gary Saunders, president of Kontrol BioCloud. “We have initiated our prototype design which will form the basis of our real-time detection solution.”
The Kontrol BioWater technology is designed with the goal of being the initial real-time, in the cloud, detection technology for virus in wastewater. The current process for the collection of wastewater sampling involves on-site technicians, transporting samples to a laboratory and then undertaking a separate analysis of the wastewater. This process is time consuming and can take several days to complete. The intention of the Kontrol BioWater is to advance sampling automation for faster, on-site detection which can potentially accelerate a response plan.
The company has launched the development of the Kontrol BioWater, including advancing a prototype design, and to date has received $300,000 in research and development funding for the initial Phase 1 testing. The company has demonstrated a track record in accessing Federal and Provincial funding for its Kontrol BioCloud technology. However, there is no assurance that the Company will receive any further government funding.
Wastewater surveillance
According to the CDC wastewater data can help scientists detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in a community even before data from doctor’s offices or hospitals get reported to public health officials. Wastewater data can be an important early warning signal and should be used alongside other data. Early warning systems, such as wastewater surveillance, can detect small changes as a signal for early action. More data over time can give better, more reliable trends.
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