Microbiology in the Field: Construction and Validation of a Portable Incubator for Real-Time Quantification of Coliforms and Other Bacteria.

ABSTRACT: Performing microbiological assays on environmental samples in field settings poses logistical challenges with respect to the availability of suitable equipment or the ability to get samples to the laboratory in a timely fashion. For example, the viability of some bacteria can decrease greatly between sampling and arrival to the laboratory for processing. We developed and constructed rugged, reliable, and cost-effective portable incubators that were used by 10 independent field teams to perform microbiological assays on surface water samples from lakes across Canada. Rigorous testing and validation of our incubators ensured that incubation conditions were consistent within and across all 10 field teams and 2 sampling years. Samples from all sites were processed in duplicate and bacterial co

SUBMITTER: Wight J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7723852 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature