Wastewater Testing for Monkeypox

Following the advice of public health and medical experts, the University of Arizona has developed a comprehensive plan to keep our campus community as safe and healthy as possible from COVID-19, monkeypox, and other infectious diseases.

One of the strategies that takes place on campus is wastewater-based epidemiology. 

A research team at the Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center with expertise in wastewater-based epidemiology is testing the wastewater that comes out of five collection sites on main campus for monkeypox. This testing does not identify individuals with infections or even floors of buildings where there may be infections. Wastewater testing is a helpful method for determining the presence of monkeypox in a community and can help inform public health efforts at the University.

There are five collection sites for monkeypox. Collection sites are as follows: 

Collection Site 1:  Student Union
Collection Site 2:  Park Street and Campus Drive, including the Anthropology Bldg., Chemistry & Marvel Labs, Cochise Dorm, Forbes Bldg., Herring Hall, Nugent Bldg., Saguaro Hall, and South Hall
Collection Site 3:  Park Street and 4th Street, including Gould Simpson Bldg., Marley Bldg., McClelland Park Bldg., Physics/Atmospheric Sciences Bldg., Shantz Bldg., and Yavapai Dorm
Collection Site 4:  Park Student Union, Kaibab-Huachuca, and Arizona Dorms
Collection Site 5:  Campus Recreation Center - SouthREC

Results from specific testing locations will not be shared publicly. Aggregate data will be shared with University leadership, the Incident Command System (ICS), the Public Health Advisory Coronavirus Team (PHACT), the COVID-19 Response Team, Campus Health, Housing & Residential Life, Facilities Management, SAFER Contact Tracers, and the Pima County Health Department. 

If you have questions about this wastewater testing, please email t3@arizona.edu. 

More information about monkeypox and vaccine availability is available on the Campus Health monkeypox page.