First UK Deployments of Microtox®PD Pathogen Detection Systems in UK Wastewater
Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection Post Pandemic Sensors – Integrated Solution Trial for National System of ‘ Sentinel ‘ Sewage Works
DeepVerge plc (AIM: DVRG), announces that the first six installations of Modern Water Post-Pandemic Microtox®PD pathogen detection systems in wastewater have been deployed to various sites in the UK which form part of t he Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection (EMHP) programme, led by the Joint Biosecurity Centre (part of NHS Test & Trace) , Defra, academia and water companies. These units, worth £480,000, referred to in the RNS of 28th October 2021[1] are additional to the £5m Modern Water production orders announced in the RNS of 11th March 2022[2]. Additional Microtox®PD units are expected to be deployed over the next few months in the UK.
The automated, real-time Microtox®PD detection system initially designed for the COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 virus, has the capacity to detect other dangerous pathogens such as bacteria and infectious viruses including PMMoV[i], Influenza A[ii], Influenza B[iii], and Polio[iv] in wastewater, and E.coli[v] in drinking water on a single chip, using AI, in real-time. These additional pathogens form part of an extension to the development relationship with the Aptamer Group plc. The data collected is then fed into a computer and artificial intelligence is used to predict where public health bodies should target their resources to contain any outbreaks .
The Modern Water Team are working with the Joint Biosecurity Centre, which is part of the UK NHS Test & Trace to trial a national system of ‘ sentinel ‘ sewage works which act as an early warning system for spikes of the most common variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus .
The Aptamer Group plc provided their “Optimer” binding agents on the chip to capture the pathogens and Microsaic Systems plc partnered with the Company in the development and validation of the innovative Microtox®PD detection system.
Gerry Brandon CEO DeepVerge plc commented:
“As part of the Environmental Monitoring for Health Protection programme, the Microtox®PD equipment is continuously updated to meet local conditions and information captured is used to build a range of datasets for comparative analysis for the health and safety of the local and regional populations. The installations are important as their routine use will serve as a model for other regional, national and ultimately the global authorities looking for innovative ways to improve the health, safety and overall outcomes of the population from endemic and global pandemic diseases. These are cornerstone installations for us as we commercialise our unique Microtox®PD COVID19 virus and multiplex detection systems.”
For further information please contact:
DeepVerge plc
Gerard Brandon, CEO
+44 (0) 7340 055 648
