Project Name: AMELAG - Wastewater Monitoring for Epidemiological Situation Assessment

Project Partners: HTS Labs Frankfurt GmbH & vermicon AG

Project Duration: April 2023 to December 2024

Project Description: Together with vermicon, HTS Labs won the tender from the Federal Environment Agency and is responsible for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in the wastewater of 19 sewage treatment plants in Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Bremen. Wastewater samples from all treatment plants are measured twice weekly. vermicon AG has over 26 years of experience in wastewater monitoring. This collaboration leverages innovative technologies and digitized logistics solutions to increase the efficiency and accuracy of the monitoring.

Project Goal: The goal of the project is to monitor the viral load in wastewater independently of individual testing or reports to health authorities. In addition to SARS-CoV-2, other pathogens such as influenza, polioviruses, RSV, health-relevant bacteria, viruses, fungi, and antibiotic resistances can also be monitored.

Methodology: Since October 2023, samples from up to 175 sewage treatment plants in Germany have been examined weekly for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 viruses. vermicon AG has developed special qPCR test kits used in the laboratory facilities of HTS Labs Frankfurt GmbH. There, wastewater samples are tested for SARS-CoV-2 in a high-throughput process, and the data is reported to the UBA and RKI. This cooperation combines high-throughput capacity with long-standing microbial expertise.

Project Funding: The project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) and carried out in cooperation with the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).

Our Solutions:

1. Digital Solution for Sample Registration: Full transparency from sampling to laboratory entry was achieved through the development of a digital solution for the registration of wastewater samples from sewage treatment plants.
2. Logistical Solution for Sample Transfer: An efficient logistical solution enables the monitoring and quality control of the entire sample transfer process.
3. Establishment of vermicon Assays: The SARS-CoV-2 assays developed by vermicon were successfully established in the laboratory and optimized for high throughput. This allows large volumes of wastewater analyses to be conducted daily in a cost-effective manner.

Statements from the Project Leaders:

Dr. Jiri Snaidr, Microbiologist and Chairman of vermicon AG: “Wastewater-based epidemiology enables cost-effective and person-independent monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 viruses and allows for reliable health management.”

Dr. Michael Bonin, CEO of HTS Labs Frankfurt: “The cooperation with vermicon AG enables powerful analytics by combining high-throughput capacity with microbial expertise. Digital solutions are essential to quickly and effectively respond to challenges.”

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