| Research
Areas
SMI
is committed to developing innovative microbial testing
methods and products, water and wastewater testing, and customized research tailored to address its clients' needs. Our clients know to think of SMI when they
face difficult problems that extend well beyond the arena
of routine compliance monitoring. Through the use
of innovative technologies and the application of sound
scientific reasoning, SMI produces solutions
to environmental problems that maximize the use of limited
resources.
Some
of the areas SMI is currently researching are presented
below. In the event that you have a special interest
that is not listed here, SMI's staff of expert scientists would be happy to discuss
how
they might assist you in moving your project forward.
Innovative Sample Concentration
Technologies
Although much research over the past twenty years has focused upon the development of sensitive detection systems, little progress has been made in upstream sample collection and concentration procedures. The absence of efficient concentration techniques renders even the most sensitive detectors ineffective, especially for pathogens that exhibit low infectious doses in humans such as the enteric viruses and certain protozoan parasites. SMI is currently developing an array of sample collection and concentration systems that can be coupled to a variety of detection systems to generate integrated pathogen detection systems.
Continuous
Flow Centrifugation (CFC)
is an innovative concentration technique that has been validated for the concentration of large volume surface water samples as well as samples that
may have high turbidities that preclude the use of filtration. SMI scientists have validated CFC for the detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in water and have been approved by the USEPA for microbial testing under the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. SMI has further extended the utility of CFC as a pretreatment tool in advance of membrane filter concentration of enteric viruses and coliphages. SMI has currently partnered with the nation's leading supplier of CFC instrumentation to produce the newest class of concentration instruments for recovering microorganisms from large sample volumes.
Positively
Charged Filters SMI is actively developing innovative membrane filters for the concentration of enteric viruses and coliphages from water. The Virocap™ electropositive filter
is now available for microbiologists interested in rapid and simple virus detection. Virocap™
membranes are available in disk-cut format for use with a traditional filter funnel apparatus or in pleated cartridge formats for large volume sample collection. Please contact our research team to hear about how our membrane filters can be used in conjunction with
Continuous Flow Centrifugation for simultaneous concentration of viruses, coliphages, and protozoan parasites
such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
Emerging Pathogens
EPA
Contaminant Candidate List Pathogens
Previous
Research by SMI Principals
SMI's principals
have contributed to and participated in public health and
water safety issues for decades. The following areas
highlight some of their experience:
For further information about SMI's services, please feel to contact a project manager at (574) 277-4078. |
