An Innovative Response
Led by the College of Science and Mathematics, faculty, staff, and students from across campus created a new lab to run in-house, saliva-based and wastewater COVID-19 surveillance tests. The lab helped the university keep the Cal Poly community safe by more effectively catching infections before they spread — all while providing students a valuable Learn by Doing experience.
The Team
From students to faculty to technical, health, facilities and maintenance staff, the Cal Poly community came together to make the lab work.
25 STUDENTS from 3 COLLEGES
"It's cool to actually apply what you did in a lab class to real life." - Vinay Gopan, microbiology student
FACULTY AND STAFF LEADERSHIP & SUPPORT
From departments all across campus
8 OPENTRONS ROBOTS
To move liquid samples
3 MONTHS
From green light to first tests
Saliva Testing
Thanks to a quick turnaround time and high accuracy, the university can test all students coming to campus twice a week.
DEFINING TERMS
The 93% sensitivity rate is in regard to accurately determining if someone is positive for COVID-19, while the 97% specificity rate is in regard to accurately determining if someone does not have COVID-19. Limit of detection is the lowest amount of pathogen that can be differentiated in a clinical sample.
4,000 TESTS in 8 HOURS
149,592 SAMPLES
Collected from February to June 2021
"I'm really proud of our protocol — it is unique...We are able to do it much more efficiently and much faster than other institutions." - Jean Davidson, biology professor
Wastewater Testing
Wastewater testing monitored for potential outbreaks before they spread and allowed for more targeted saliva testing if necessary.
10 GALLONS
How much wastewater Cal Poly pulls out of five manholes twice a week.
55 MILLION
Approximately how many viruses per liter have been detected.
Read more about Healthy Communities in Filling the Gaps and Practicing a Passion for Healthcare
