Ireland – Health and social work services

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) intends to enter into an arrangement with University College Dublin, School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science (UCD SBBS), for the provision of laboratory testing services, analysis, reporting and associated sample transport services for the National Wastewater Surveillance Programme (NWSP). The NWSP is a national public health surveillance programme that monitors wastewater for pathogens and emerging biological threats, including SARS-CoV-2, poliovirus, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The services will support ongoing wastewater surveillance activities, including laboratory analysis, reporting, methodological development, quality assurance and sample distribution. The scope of the programme may expand to include additional pathogen testing, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring and other requirements arising from the Recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (EU) 2024/3019 and future public health surveillance needs.