As new coronavirus variants dominate COVID-19 cases in Chicago, researchers said they were able to detect the presence of the omicron BA.2 subvariant two weeks before it showed up in an individual clinical COVID test by using tampons planted in sewers around the city.
Beyond covering menstrual needs, tampons have been famously used to stop nosebleeds and dress emergency wounds. Now, they are being used to test sewage for COVID-19.