What Is Untap Health?
Untap Health is a London-based HealthTech startup (founded in 2021) that uses wastewater-based epidemiology — automated, real-time analysis of sewage and wastewater — to detect early signs of infectious diseases in communities and workplaces without the need for individual testing. (TechCrunch)
Instead of relying on symptomatic or individual PCR tests, Untap’s system identifies genetic material from pathogens such as COVID-19, influenza, RSV, norovirus and more in wastewater, providing actionable insight on infection risk before symptoms appear. (Untap)
How the Technology Works
- Continuous Real-Time Monitoring: Untap’s system is installed on-site (e.g., in drains or wastewater outlets) and runs automated PCR tests on samples multiple times per day, streaming data to a dashboard for customers. (TechCrunch)
- Early Outbreak Detection: By tracking changes in pathogen concentrations over time, the system can indicate rising infection risk up to 10 days earlier than traditional surveillance methods (like clinical reporting or individual testing). (Startups.co.uk)
- Non-invasive & Passive: No swabs, no testing kits, and no individual participation are required — it monitors health signals from wastewater seamlessly. (Untap)
This makes Untap’s platform a form of preventive health intelligence rather than a reactive diagnostic tool.
Key Benefits & Value Proposition
1. Early Warning & Prevention
Untap helps organisations act before outbreaks spread, such as by increasing hygiene protocols, adjusting ventilation, or informing tenants/staff — significantly reducing disruption and infection rates. (Untap)
2. Broad Applicability Across Environments
Use cases include:
- Care homes and senior living facilities (protecting vulnerable populations)
- Hospitals and healthcare settings
- Universities and campuses
- Workplaces and offices
- Cruise ships, airports, hospitality venues
- Agriculture and farm biosecurity
These environments benefit from proactive risk insights that traditional surveillance can’t offer at scale. (Untap)
3. Actionable Data & Trend Tracking
Results are delivered through a dashboard that shows trends and risk scores — enabling organisations to tailor responses in near real-time rather than waiting for clinical case spikes. (Untap)
Founders & Mission
- Dr Claire Trant — CEO & Co-Founder
- Dr Jay Bullen — CTO & Co-Founder
Both founders met at Entrepreneur First and combined expertise in water chemistry, epidemiology, and engineering to turn wastewater analysis into practical health intelligence. (TechCrunch)
Their mission is to transform disease detection from reactive diagnosis after symptoms appear to prevention and early risk management, which could reduce the impact of outbreaks across industries and communities. (Startups.co.uk)
Adoption & Pilot Successes (Case Highlights)
While Untap is still early in commercial deployment, several success stories and pilots demonstrate the promise of its system: (Untap)
University of Cambridge
At Cambridge’s West Hub, Untap’s real-time monitoring identified early viral signals — including COVID-19, influenza, and norovirus — allowing targeted hygiene and awareness measures that helped reduce spread and improve infection control on campus. (Untap)
Ascot Residential Homes
Care home staff used Untap’s early warnings to bolster infection prevention and control (IPC) plans during viral risk periods, strengthening staff and resident safety, as they predicted flu and gastroenteritis outbreaks before visible symptoms. (Untap)
Somerset House (Makerversity)
Untap detected a spike in SARS-CoV-2 before local reports emerged, prompting enhanced cleaning and signage that improved visitor and staff safety. (Untap)
R&M Electrical Group
While routine testing missed ongoing COVID-19 spread, wastewater monitoring flagged the issue, revealing untested external visitors as vectors — enabling better targeted controls and improved continuity. (Untap)
These early use cases show how Untap’s platform can be used across sectors to pre-empt outbreaks and reduce absenteeism, closures, and health costs.
Funding & Recognition
- Untap Health has raised seed funding and completed multiple funding rounds, including backing from investors like 7percent Ventures and the British Design Fund. (Crunchbase)
- The company was recently featured in the Startups 100 Index for 2026, recognising it as one of the UK’s most promising new businesses. (Startups.co.uk)
This combination of capital and accolades reflects growing confidence in Untap’s ability to scale its technology and market reach.
Comments & Expert Perspectives
Public Health Impact
Untap’s co-founders and supporters believe wastewater surveillance is a future cornerstone of preventative health — offering population-level insights that traditional diagnostics miss and enabling organisations to act early to protect health and continuity. (Startups.co.uk)
Innovation in a Post-Pandemic World
The rise of COVID-19 highlighted gaps in global disease surveillance; Untap’s technology extends this mindset into everyday risk management — from care homes to workplaces — helping organisations detect outbreaks silently and quickly. (TechCrunch)
The Road Ahead
Challenges & Priorities
- Scaling commercial deployments and reducing cost barriers for widespread adoption.
- Legislative and ethical considerations around wastewater health data.
- Expanding pathogen panels responsibly (avoiding controversial uses like drug detection). (TechCrunch)
Opportunities
- Partnerships with building management, smart infrastructure firms, and public health entities.
- Using aggregate data to support public health decision-making at city or regional levels.
- Applying machine learning for predictive outbreak insights. (TechCrunch)
Bottom Line
Untap Health is emerging as a standout UK HealthTech innovator by turning wastewater into early-warning health intelligence — enabling organisations to detect and respond to infectious disease trends before they become outbreaks. With strong pilot evidence, investor confidence, and inclusion in major startup rankings, it’s positioned to redefine how preventive health monitoring is done across sectors and geographies. (Startups.co.uk)
Here’s a *comprehensive look at Untap Health — including real case studies, comments, and insights on why it’s emerging as a standout UK HealthTech startup focused on wastewater-based disease surveillance:
What Untap Health Does
Untap Health is a London-based HealthTech startup (founded in 2021) that built a real-time, automated wastewater monitoring system that detects viral and bacterial disease signals before symptoms appear in a population. Instead of testing individuals, Untap analyzes wastewater from buildings or communities — serving as an early warning system for outbreaks of COVID-19, flu, RSV, norovirus and more. (Untap)
The technology blends PCR-based detection, hardware automation, and dashboards that help organisations understand local infectious risk — and act early with cleaning, ventilation or health protocols. (Startups.co.uk)
Untap has been recognised on the Startups 100 list, marking it as one of the UK’s most promising young companies. (Startups.co.uk)
Case Studies & Success Stories
1. Cambridge University – Early Viral Signal Detection
At the University of Cambridge (West Hub), Untap Health’s system was deployed to monitor wastewater for multiple pathogens — including COVID-19, influenza, RSV, and norovirus. Its real-time data allowed the university to:
- Spot rising infection signals before symptoms appeared,
- Introduce enhanced cleaning,
- Launch health awareness campaigns, and
- Post hygiene signage,
helping significantly reduce spread during peak risk periods.
The results led to a co-authored peer-reviewed paper highlighting how near-source wastewater surveillance supports targeted local infection prevention and control. (Untap)
Expert comment: Dr. Charlotte Hammer (epidemiologist at Cambridge) emphasised the value of continuous wastewater monitoring in high-transmission environments like universities to complement traditional clinical surveillance. (Untap)
2. Ascot Residential Homes – Strengthening IPC Measures
In a senior living facility, Untap Health’s system monitored wastewater for viral threats. Early warning signals allowed staff to anticipate risks and strengthen infection prevention and control (IPC) — giving managers confidence in resident and staff safety. (Untap)
Client comment:
“Having Untap Health’s advanced warning system in place gives us confidence when residents and staff are well, and strengthens our IPC measures if we ever experience an outbreak.”
— Fidelma Tinneny, Owner, Ascot Residential Homes (Untap)
3. Somerset House (Makerversity) – Cultural Venue Outbreak Response
At the Makerversity site in Somerset House, Untap detected rising COVID-19 signals ahead of visible symptom reporting. The venue used these insights to:
- Update cleaning schedules,
- Reinstate mask guidance,
- Share timely safety updates with visitors and staff —
creating a safer environment in a high-traffic cultural setting. (Untap)
This pilot was also recognised as a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) success story. (Untap)
4. R&M Electrical Group – Protecting Workforce Continuity
A manufacturing client struggled with COVID-19 disruption despite routine lateral flow testing. Untap’s wastewater monitoring revealed undetected virus circulation linked to external visitors. The company then tailored policies to include visitors in infection prevention — helping maintain operations and reduce absenteeism. (Untap)
5. Te-Tech Process Solutions – Workplace Outbreak Avoidance
After infections emerged among staff at Te-Tech’s office, Untap detected ongoing viral presence in wastewater, enabling a prompt recommendation for targeted lateral flow testing. This quick response helped limit further spread and maintain productivity. (Untap)
Comments & Strategic Insight
Founder’s Vision
Untap co-founder Dr Claire Trant explains that traditional clinical testing only shows disease after individuals are symptomatic — by which time transmission is already underway. Untap aims to flip that model, giving organisations days of lead time to act before outbreaks accelerate. (Startups.co.uk)
The founders came together around the idea that wastewater can be a proactive health signal, rather than just environmental waste — inspired by gaps highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Innovate UK Business Connect)
Innovation Support & Scale-Up
Untap participated in Innovate UK’s Women in Innovation programme, where CEO Claire Trant gained funding, mentoring and business growth support. This helped Untap move from proof-of-concept to revenue-generating pilots with customers and expand its pathogen testing capabilities (e.g., norovirus, influenza, RSV beyond SARS-CoV-2). (Innovate UK Business Connect)
“The additional funds from Innovate UK allowed us to expand our product offering and be more than just a ‘COVID company’… showing our ability to test for a broad suite of pathogens.”
— Dr Claire Trant, CEO (Innovate UK Business Connect)
Expert & Sector Perspectives
Academic Validation
A 2025 peer-reviewed study involving Untap’s team showed that near-source wastewater surveillance at multiple UK sites (offices, care homes, museums, universities) captured local disease trends not seen in broader public surveillance and informed disease prevention actions. (ScienceDaily)
Strategic Value
Untap’s approach aligns with evolving public health strategies that increasingly prioritise early risk indicators over reactive case reporting — a shift supported by national programmes expanding wastewater testing for multiple pathogens. (Financial Times)
Why Untap Health Is Gaining Attention
Early, actionable detection
The ability to flag rising disease risk before symptoms emerge distinguishes Untap from traditional surveillance systems.
Real-world impact across sectors
Case studies span universities, care homes, workplaces, manufacturing plants and cultural venues — showing flexible applications.
Support & recognition
Backed by Innovate UK and ranked in the Startups 100, Untap is gaining credibility beyond the lab. (Startups.co.uk)
Academic collaboration
Involvement in peer-reviewed research with respected institutions augments its scientific legitimacy. (ScienceDaily)
In Summary
Untap Health is not just another health startup — it’s reimagining disease surveillance by using wastewater as a real-time health signal. Its pilots show concrete outcomes (reduced spread, informed IPC decisions, continuity in operations), and its founders are vocal about expanding its use across high-risk environments while building scientific, regulatory and investor support. (Untap)