Water Diagnostics

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Each year, unpredictable Legionella outbreaks occur accounting for numerous cases of Legionnaires' Disease, loss of life, and economic damage to businesses. Hot water systems, cooling towers, and water distribution systems typically found in large buildings such as hotels and hospitals are always susceptible to legionella colonization leading to these life-threatening outbreaks.

We offer

Aqua Screen^® is an in vitro test system for the qualitative and/or quantitative detection of water pathogens like Legionella pneumophila and Legionella species.

• Aqua Screen^® combines a sample preparation module with PCR analysis. The system allows highly sensitive diagnostics of low contaminated water samples.
  Aqua Screen^® Starter Kit - Detection of Legionella pneumophila and Legionella spp.
  
  
• Aqua Screen^® Fast Extract is a novel system for normal and high-throughput applications based on filtration and DNA extraction. The system allows a rapid filtration from weak to strong contaminated water samples.
  Aqua Screen^® Fast Extract - Detection of Legionella pneumophila and Legionella spp.

PCR Analysis

PCR detection kits - Legionella spp.

PCR detection kits - Legionella pneumophila

 

Sample Preparation Module

The sample preparation module performs the water filtration, the lysis of the precipitated microorganism, the DNA extraction as well as the purification and elution of the DNA in minimal volumes under conditions which are optimal for the subsequent PCR analysis. The PCR testing can be accomplished by conventional PCR with agarose gel evaluation or by real-time PCR for legionella quantification.

Benefits

• Highly sensitive
  Detection accomplished with 100-150 legionella particles per sample volume.
• Highly specific
  for Legionella pneumophila SG 1-14 and SG 16, L. longbeachae, L. dumoffii, L. bozemanii, L. gormanii, L. anisa, L.cherrii, L. parisiensis, L. tucsonensis, L. wadsworthii as well as other human pathogenic species. Specificity minimizes the risk of false positive results and increases confidence that positive results reflect true legionella.
• Ease of use
  Complete sample preparation Including water filtration, DNA purification and concentration for direct PCR analysis.
• Rapid
  Results are obtained within 6-8 hours, hands-on time less than 60 minutes.
• Reliable
  The kit contains a positive control DNA and internal control DNA to optimize reproducibility and minimize operator-dependent variability of results.
• Recognizes VBNC
  Detects both culturable and non-culturable legionella.

Components for the Aqua Screen^® System

Starter Kits

with all required components for the complete Aqua Screen^® System:

The Filtration Unit

contains a sample preparation base unit that includes filtration rack, glass funnels, filter-holders, adapters and funnel-syringe for simultaneous filtration, lysis and DNA extraction of 3 water samples, reusable. Vacuum pump not included.

Extraction Kits

contain sample preparation consumables, including filter membranes, DNA binding membranes, buffers, spin columns and DNA receiving tubes.

PCR Analysis

The Aqua Screen^® PCR system is a test for the qualitative and quantitative detection of Legionella spp. and Legionella pneumophila in water samples. When using the Legionella Detection Kit for Conventional PCR, the amplified PCR product is approx. 240 bp long and can be rendered visible directly in the agarose gel. The real-time PCR variant is designed such that the specific target probe emits fluorescent light at 520 nm.

PCR detection kits - Legionella spp.

PCR detection kits - Legionella pneumophila

Supplements & Spare Parts

Additional PCR tests for other relevant pathogenic water contaminants are in development, and will also be applicable with AquaScreen^®'s Aqua Screen^® Fast Extract filtration module.