Analytical Services - Protozoan Testing

SMI is committed to research in support of the development of improved methods for detecting waterborne pathogens such as Cryptosporidium.  SMI is the only EPA-approved laboratory that offers utilities the choice of either Continuous Flow Centrifugation or Envirochek capsule filtration to address their monitoring needs.  If you have questions concerning water monitoring for Cryptosporidium and Giardia or if you need information on the detection of emerging waterborne pathogens please contact our project management team at (574)-277-4078.

Cryptosporidium & Giardia

These parasitic protozoans can be concentrated from water and wastewater by continuous flow centrifugation (CFC) or by filtration using EnvirochekT filter capsules. Immunomagnetic beads capture protozoa from sample concentrates, permitting the removal of interfering debris from the sample. Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts are dissociated from the immunomagnetic beads and are then labeled to fluorescent antibodies to facilitate microscopic visualization and enumeration.

CRYPTOSPORIDIUM - Epifluorescence                          CRYPTOSPORIDIUM - DAPI

This is an image of Cryptosporidium under     This is an image of Cryptosporidium labeled epifluorescence.  Epifluorescence is a             with DAPI under UV optics.  DAPI is a nuclear stain

technique used to confirm the presence of      that makes it possible to visualize Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium in water.  Oocysts appear     DNA in the form of oocyst nuclei.  This technique is

as round or ovoid particles with distinctive       used as a confirmatory procedure under EPA Method

apple green fluorescence.                                   1623 for the detection of Cryptosporidium in water.

For further information about SMI's services, please contact a project manager at (574) 277-4078.

For further information about SMI's services, please feel to contact a project manager at (574) 277-4078..