Large
volume water testing (10 to 1000) liters: four coliphage
approaches
Different research
projects can require different approaches, so SMI offers four ways
to gather coliphage data for groundwater or surface water testing.
You
filter. We test.
This
is perhaps the most common approach. We will
send you a sample filtration apparatus and instructions. You
filter a specific volume of water in the field
and return the filter and apparatus to us. We
will elution the viruses from the filter and perform
the testing at our lab. We
can enumerate the number of somatic coliphage plaque
forming units (pfu) or male-specific coliphage
plaque forming units (pfu). Alternatively,
we can perform two tests; one test to enumerate the
number of somatic and one test for male-specific (F+)
coliphages.
You
filter. We test. Then we "stereotype."
If
you are interested in whether fecal contamination in water is
from human or non-human sources, we can help. After
you filter and we enumerate male-specific coliphages, we can select a
number plaques and subjecting these plaques to five different antibody
determinations. This categorizes each RNA coliphage into one of
four distinct serogroups. Coliphages
associated with human feces belong to serogroups 2 and 3. Coliphages
associated with birds and other warm-boold animals belong to grounps
1 and 4. More
information is available on using coliphage serotyping for molecular source tracking
of fecal contamination.
We
filter. We test.
We
will send you a plastic "cubitainer" and a shipping container.
We will and ask you to fill it cubtainer and return it to the lab. Typically,
the volume water is limited to 10 liters because of the cost of
shipping. We
can enumerate the number of somatic coliphage plaque forming units (pfu)
or male-specific coliphage
plaque forming units (pfu). Alternatively,
we can perform two tests to enumerate the number of both somatic and
male-specific coliphages present in the sample. Of
course, we can serotype the male-specific coliphages we detected, so
if you want us to serotype the F+ coliphages to inform your understanding
of the source of fecal contamination, contact the lab.
You
filter. You test.
We
will sell you sample filters and an apparatus and provide instructions. You
filter a specific volume of water in the field and use our Optima RE
buffer to elution the viruses from the filter. You use our EasyPhage
media to perform the testing at your lab. You don't need an autoclave
and you don't need a water bath to keep hot agar molten as required by
EPA method 1602.
For a quick demo of how to use EasyPhage click here.
Researchers
wanting to perform their own coliphage studies or wanting to determine
if Easyphage will work with a bacteriophage of interest to them should
contact the laboratory for a free sample kit.
For further information about SMI's services, please feel to contact a project manager at (574) 277-4078..
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