Bactiquant Water
Bactiquant water is a rapid method for quantification of total bacteria in water and other liquid samples. A key feature is that Bactiquant water reduces analysis time for total bacteria from days to minutes. The method has been extensively documented in practice by customers worldwide and has recently been verified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The analysis results are highly reproducible (RSD < 7%) and provide relevant information about water treatment processes and microbiological water quality. Bactiquant analysis provides a comprehensive quantification of total bacterial presence that includes planktonic bacteria, particle associated bacteria, anaerobes as well as aerobes. The Bactiquant-water methodology is a mature technology that features: ( not all of this is included in the basic package)
- Flexible solutions tailored to the specific needs of our customers
- Portable as well as lab based equipment
- Robust and durable analysis chemistry
- Proficiency training
- Data handling software’s (FDA-21 CFR part 11 compatible)
- Quality Assurance Package (In house proficiency verification)
- Use the technology for on-site assessment of total bacterial load in water samples
- Rapid Screening of water systems for Legionella risk
- Post treatment verification prior to Legionella sampling
- Validate the efficacy of cleaning methods
The analysis is not affected by turbidity, conductivity, hardness or pH, allowing a wide range of applications in the water utilities and industry. The product is a unique, flexible tool that can be applied in advanced laboratories as well as in remote locations under rugged conditions
- Timely results
- Respond quickly
- Maintain control
- Enhance water safety
- Optimise water treatments
- Increase system reliability
Specifications
Bactiquant water targets a naturally occurring enzyme activity in bacteria. The enzyme activity is present in a broad spectrum of bacteria, representing all major taxonomic groups, including gram negative and gram positive bacteria, as well as aerobes and anaerobes. The enzyme activity belongs to a class of enzymes called hydrolases. Bactiquant water is very sensitive to the presence of bacteria in water samples including suspended as well as bacteria immobilized on particles or in aggregates. With the Bactiquant-water, bacterial contaminants can be concentrated from large volumes of water allowing low analysis time even at relatively low bacterial concentrations.
The table below shows examples of bacteria that express the target enzyme activity. The bacteria includes gram positive, gram negative and represents all major taxonomical groups.
| Organism | Gram stain | Phyllum/class |
| Athrobacter sp. | Negative | Actinobacteria / grp. 20 |
| Bacillus cereus | Positive | Firmicutes / grp. 18 |
| Bacillus subtilis | Positive | Firmicutes / grp. 18 |
| Bacillus thuringiensis | Positive | Firmicutes / grp. 18 |
| Clostridiumtetani | Positive | Firmicutes / clostridia |
| Desulfovibrio desulfouricans | Positive | Proteobacteria / δ |
| Enterobacter sp. | Negative | Proteobacteria / γ |
| Enterococcous faecalis | Positive | Firmicutes / bacilli |
| Eschericia coli | Negative | Proteobacteria / γ |
| Escherichia fergusonii | Negative | Proteobacteria / γ |
| Flavobacteriabacterium | Negative | Bacteroidetes / flavobacteria |
| Flavobacteriumjohnsoniae | Negative | Bacteroidetes / flavobacteria |
| Klebsiella pneumonia | Negative | Proteobacteria / γ |
| Lactobacillus acidophilus | Positive | Firmicutes / bacilli |
| Lactobacillus reuteri | Positive | Firmicutes / bacilli |
| Methanococcus aeolicus | Negative | Euryarchaeota / methanococci |
| Micrococcus sodonensis | Positive | Actinobacteria / actinobacteria |
| Pseudomonas aeroginosa | Negative | Proteobacteria / γ |
| Rhodobacter sphaeroides | Negative | Proteobacteria / α |
| Serratia marcescens | Positive | Proteobacteria / γ |
| Staphylococcous aureus | Positive | Firmicutes / bacilli |
| Sphingomonas Wittichii | Negative | Proteobacteria / α |
| Vibrio sp. | Negative | Proteobacteria / γ |
| Xanthomonas campestris | Positive | Proteobacteria / γ |
Applications
PREDICTABILITY AND CONSISTENCY SAVES YOU TIME AND MONEY
Producing biostable and safe drinking Water for consumption is essential for Water utilities. In industry being in control of the process Water quality reduces the potential for production downtime and eliminates the costs associated with fouled products due to introduction of sub-standard Water quality in the production process.
TAKE CONTROL OF THE WHOLE WATER PRODUCTION CHAIN
The real value of monitoring microbiological water quality lies in the early detection of change from the normal operating conditions. Therefore the starting point for gaining the full potential of the Bactiquant technology is to establish baselines for normal operation at Critical Control Points. The Bactiquant data handling software is then used to establish operational thresholds, based on historic data and simple statistical calculations (ISO 11462-1). The software provides the operator with a rapid and comprehensive overview of water microbiological quality and easily interpretable results.
EARLY DETECTION OF DEVIATIONS
The aim of our utility and industry customers is to produce Water of a uniform and high quality. The keyword is process control. The advantage over other methods of quality control such as "inspection" is that emphasis is on early detection and prevention of problems, rather than correction of problems after they have occurred and result in Water of sub-standard quality. Our customers produce water of a high quality by monitoring and controlling water quality in the whole production chain from raw water through treatment processes and distribution to the end use.
MICROBIOLOGICAL MONITORING AND CONTROL IN THE PROCESS
The concept is simple:
1) Identify Critical Control Points
2) Establish baselines at each point
3) Stabilize baselines by eliminating assignable sources of variation
4) Monitor and control the ongoing process.
OUR CUSTOMERS ARE IN CONTROL
Our customers use the data handling software to produce consistent and predictable Water quality. When they have a stabilized baseline they are in control and they can deliver Water of a uniform and high quality. Improvements to the process are a continuous task and the data handling system is essential to sustain improvements and keep reducing variations and mistakes. Actions to improve Water quality include establishing standard operating procedures, training staff and introduce changes to the system. The baselines can be used to evaluate the changes to a process when new procedures are implemented or new activities are introduced.
STATISTICAL PROCESS CONTROL (SPC) AND REACTION PLANS
SPC is Applied in order to monitor and control a process. SPC can be Applied to any process where the product conformity can be measured. Key tools in SPC includes control charts and a focus on continuous improvement. In order to gain the full potential of process monitoring and control, it is important to establish a reaction plan that describes what you do if the result is above the control limit. A typical reaction plan includes, retesting, establishing a trouble-shooting guide and protocols for adjusting the process.
Ask Quick Question