The influence of environmental factors on the detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 variants in dormitory wastewater at a primarily undergraduate institution

Testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has been crucial in tracking the spread of the virus and informing public health decisions. SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA is shed by symptomatic and asymptomatic infected individuals, allowing its genetic material to be detected and quantified in wastewater. Here, we used wastewater-based epidemiology to measure SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA from several dormitories on the Appalachian State University campus and examined the impact of sampling methods, target types, environmental factors, and infrastructure variables on quantification. Changes in the quantification of SARS-CoV-2 were observed based on target type, as well as trends for the quantification of the Delta and Omicron variants by sampling method. These results highlight the value of applying the data-inquiry practices used in this study to better contextualize wastewater sampling results.