Protecting Students From a Deadly Virus: Clemson University

Clemson University, in a bid to monitor and control the spread of COVID-19 on campus, initially relied on wastewater testing as an early detection tool. However, in 2021, discrepancies arose when the university’s wastewater results did not align with the rising Omicron case counts. Enter Biobot, a testing service that revealed results 20 times higher, accurately mirroring the Omicron surge. This pivotal data allowed Clemson to act preemptively, curbing potential outbreaks and safeguarding both the campus and wider community. The success of this partnership not only led to a published academic article but also underscored the potential of wastewater surveillance in managing public health crises on college campuses.