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Evaluation of the suitability of selected contaminants for wastewater-based surveillance at the border

Please note: As of 1 July 2025, the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science (PHF Science) is the new name for the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR). Research and reports published prior to this date may reference the organisation’s former name.

Summary

Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) is a useful tool for non-invasively screening arrivals at the New Zealand border en masse for a range of different biological and non-biological contaminants. A previous report prepared for the Ministry of Health assessed the logistics of conducting WBS at New Zealand’s international airports, including sampling directly from inbound international aircraft and from airport wastewater networks. This current report extends this assessment by evaluating a wide range of different contaminants for their suitability for WBS.

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