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About the data <br />Our methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in sewage are available at <br />www.biobot.io/covid19. Our approach relies on detecting genetic fragments of the <br />virus that are excreted in stool, which does not determine if the virus is dead or active. <br />Biobot’s COVID19 case estimate <br />We measure the SARS-CoV-2 virus in sewage by detecting its genetic signature. <br />We convert our measurements into a COVID19 case estimate by using the flow rate <br />and population data provided by the treatment facilities, as well as published rates of <br />SARS-CoV-2 shedding in stool. <br />Our case estimates and confirmed clinical cases <br />Our COVID19 case estimates may not match the confirmed case numbers in the <br />community for a variety of reasons. Clinical testing is limited and may not represent <br />the entire infected population. Some COVID19 patients are asymptomatic or have <br />mild symptoms and therefore do not seek out testing, but these patients may still <br />be infectious. Our methods will continue to improve and get more accurate as we <br />analyze more samples. In particular we are building a model to take into account <br />person-to-person variability in SARS-CoV-2 shedding in stool. Learn more on our <br />website, which includes links to our protocols and publications. <br />Data use <br />The Biobot COVID19 case estimates provide an alternative metric to guide responses <br />to the outbreak. We recommend that you share this information with local public <br />health officials, and see if there’s a way to work together to respond to COVID19 in <br />your community. <br />About Biobot’s COVID19 sewage sampling campaign <br />In collaboration with researchers at MIT, Harvard, and Brigham and Women’s <br />Hospital, Biobot Analytics launched this pro bono campaign to analyze sewage from <br />wastewater treatment facilities across the United States to estimate the prevalence of <br />COVID19 infection. <br />Since launching on March 23, 2020, the campaign has reached capacity at over <br />100 treatment facilities in almost 25 states. We are currently working to increase our <br />capacity. <br />For questions, email exec@biobot.io <br />28