Frequently asked questions

Respiratory viruses spread through shared air in our natural environments including indoor air, often before symptoms appear, making clinical diagnostic data a lagging indicator. By detecting pathogens circulating in indoor environments, we are studying whether air sampling could act as a leading indicator and assist in more quickly identifying potentially emerging threats. Air sampling can be a cost-effective and non-invasive tool for detecting environmental changes before they appear through traditional testing or reporting, supporting situational awareness without disrupting daily activities or operations.

A small, quiet device draws air through a filter that collects material for testing. Staff remove the cassette containing the filter and prepare it for testing, either on-site or at a laboratory, depending on the site’s setup. The results show whether genetic material from the pathogens included in the test was detected.

Using multipathogen panels in our labs, we can test for up to 20 pathogens simultaneously, including influenza A and B, SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and other common respiratory viruses. When direct air testing modalities are used on site, they deliver results on a smaller number of pathogenic targets. With full metagenomic sequencing conducted in a lab, we can detect thousands of viruses and bacteria at once, including potentially emerging variants and novel pathogens that targeted tests would typically miss.

Air quality monitoring measures physical and chemical pollutants such as particulate matter or CO₂. Air pathogen sampling captures biological material (viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms) to identify potentially infectious agents circulating in an indoor space.

Lungfish provides the air sampler, replacement sampling cassettes and training. Your site designates an adult to manage sampling—no technical background is needed.

What your team does

• Sets up the sampler with our guidance.
• Replaces the sampling cassette, typically one to three times per week. Each swap takes a few minutes.
• Uses an internet-connected phone or tablet to log each sampling session in the Lungfish app.
• Prepares used cassettes for shipment to a designated lab, unless testing takes place on-site.

What Lungfish provides

• Sampling equipment, supplies and training.
• Coordination of testing and shipping.
• Access to your site’s data and results.

Before your site commits, we’ll review the participation agreement together and confirm the sampling schedule, staff responsibilities, and testing and shipping arrangements.

We are primarily based in the United States, where most of our program participants are located. We also collaborate with partners internationally, including in Zambia, Nepal, and Taiwan. We welcome participation from sites around the world.

Your site needs a suitable indoor space, a power outlet, and an adult staff membe who can replace sampling cassettes and log sessions using an internet-connected phone or tablet. Staff also prepare samples for shipment or carry out on-site testing, depending on the agreed workflow. We’ll provide training and confirm your site’s responsibilities before sampling begins.

Yes. To participate in the research, organizations need to sign a simple Participation Agreement between Lungfish and your organization that sets forth the terms and conditions for participation.

Email info@lung.fish with your organization’s name, location and interest in air or wastewater sampling. We’ll explain how the program works and discuss whether it fits your site.

Our air sampling device is the Apollo Ambient Air Sampler, manufactured by InBio, a UK-based manufacturer. To learn more information about InBio, please  review their website, https://inbio.com/apollo/. InBio has manufactured the device to be a compact, whisper-quiet unit that runs continuously once plugged in. It arrives ready to plug in, does not require specialist installation and only needs minimal maintenance.

The Apollo is small enough to sit on a desk or shelf and requires no complex installation. It needs to be on a flat surface at table height, near a power outlet, with its air intake facing the room and airflow unobstructed on all sides.

The sampler needs a power outlet but does not need an internet connection. Staff need an internet-connected smartphone or tablet to log sampling sessions in the app.

Timing depends on the test and your site’s workflow. Your Lungfish contact will confirm when results are expected and when that turnaround period begins.

Results indicate whether aggregated, deidentified genetic material from specific pathogens was detected in the sampled air during a given period. A positive signal typically means a pathogen was present in the environment – it is not intended to identify who is sick or diagnose individuals, nor should it be used for that purpose. We are studying whether results are most useful when tracked over time and interpreted alongside contextual information.

We are studying whether environmental air sampling results may assist participating organizations in making informed operational decisions to improve their environmental conditions as they deem reasonable and appropriate, such as increasing fresh air exchanges via the HVAC system.

No. These sorts of environmental air sampling activities are designed solely for monitoring ambient air for environmental pathogens for scientific research purposes only. All biological material collected through the InBio air sampling device is aggregated and deidentified and does not qualify as human subject research. It is not a medical device and is not certified by FDA/CE for medical use, and should not be used for diagnosing, treating, mitigating, or preventing any diseases, allergies, or human health conditions. The research data we provide to you is for informational purposes only and should never be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding a medical condition.

The results generated by a particular site are shared with that site. In consultation with your management team, results from your site may also be shared (on an aggregated, de-identified basis) with relevant public health partners. In addition, aggregated, de-identified data may be included in our public dashboards. No personal data is collected, and the handling of any findings deemed sensitive by your team or ours will be coordinated privately.

Clinical health surveillance data collected by public health authorities is generally a lagging indicator of pathogen prevalence. By the time cases show up through individual testing, outbreaks are already underway. Through analyzing biological signals in sewage and environmental water samples, wastewater surveillance can act as a leading indicator, taking the 'biological pulse' of entire communities and ecosystems in a single sample. We are studying how this tool can support situational awareness and informed, proactive decision-making, thereby helping organizations or communities prioritize resources without disrupting daily activities or operations. This cost-effective and non-invasive technology may be especially valuable as an early warning system, allowing quicker pathogen detection than traditional methods such as diagnostic testing and reporting.

We can identify common pathogens, including gastrointestinal viruses (e.g., norovirus) and respiratory viruses (e.g., influenza A and B, SARS-CoV-2 or RSV). Targeted tests look for selected pathogens. Metagenomic sequencing examines a broader range of genetic material and may reveal sequences that targeted tests would miss. Findings depend on the sample, methods and available reference data.

Water quality monitoring measures physical and chemical characteristics of water, such as pH, nutrients, heavy metals, or contaminants. Wastewater pathogen monitoring analyzes biological signals — genetic material from viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms — to understand what pathogens and biological materials may be circulating in a population.

Lungfish provides supplies and training for collecting and shipping wastewater samples to our labs. Trained staff at your site collect samples using the safety procedures provided, typically one to three times per week on an agreed schedule. Samples are shipped to our lab, where we extract and sequence genetic material to identify viruses, bacteria and other biological signals for our research.

We are primarily based in the United States, where most of our program participants are located. We also collaborate with partners internationally, including in Zambia, Nepal, and Taiwan. We welcome participation from sites around the world.

Contact us to discuss whether your site fits the research program. We’ll work with your team to confirm suitable sampling access, a collection schedule and staff responsibilities. Lungfish provides training and guidance for collecting and packaging samples, and coordinates shipping and laboratory analysis.

Yes. To participate in the research, organizations need to sign a simple Participation Agreement between Lungfish and your organization that sets forth the terms and conditions for participation.

Email info@lung.fish with your organization’s name, location and interest in air or wastewater sampling. We’ll explain how the program works and discuss whether it fits your site.

Typically about a week from sample receipt, depending on the day of arrival. However, turnaround time depends upon  numerous variables (e.g., shipping and processing time) and Lungfish neither  guarantees nor warrants that any results will be returned within this time frame.

Results generally indicate whether aggregated deidentified genetic material from specific pathogens was detected in the sampled wastewater during a given period. A positive signal suggests that a target was present in the environment - it is not intended to identify who is sick or diagnose individuals, nor should it be used for that purpose. We are studying whether results are most useful when tracked over time and interpreted alongside contextual information.

Scientific data obtained from this wastewater sampling research study is shared with your site for informational purposes only. In consultation with your team, testing results may also be shared with relevant public health partners, and aggregated, deidentified data may be included in our public dashboards in accordance with any written agreement, your consent or Lungfish’s privacy  policies. No personal data is collected and investigators do not attempt to identify any biological materials with any particular individual or individuals. Further, the handling of any findings deemed sensitive by your team or ours will be coordinated privately.