Microbiological testing of water systems, particularly for Legionella, E. coli, coliforms, and overall bioburden, remains a critical aspect of quality control in pharmaceutical, public health and healthcare settings. The evolving landscape of testing methodologies, from traditional culture-based techniques to more rapid easier to use approaches, offers both opportunities and challenges for water quality management.

As the field continues to advance, staying informed about emerging technologies, regulatory developments, and best practices is essential for maintaining the highest standards of water quality and safety. By implementing comprehensive testing programs, embracing new technologies where appropriate, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, organizations can ensure the integrity of their water systems.

Wastewater, Potable Water, E.coli and Coliforms
In this special focus on rapid microbiology solutions for water testing, we cover how NSI by ZeptoMetrix's certified reference materials and proficiency testing standards can ensure accurate, validated results for wastewater testing laboratories - results that meet accreditation requirements and help streamline laboratory testing.

E.coli and coliforms serve as key bacterial indicators for assessing water quality. The well established Colilert^®-18 , from IDEXX, has been trusted by water utilities worldwide for more than two decades for the detection of coliforms and E. coli in drinking water, sewage, raw water and bio solids. In 2012, the Colilert-18/Quanti-Tray® method became the ISO standard 9308-2. Plus the IDEXX Tecta® system is a complete, self-contained water testing system, providing rapid evidence of bacterial contamination,

SGL have a comprehensive range of pre-made media for all water testing purposes, from basic agar to chromogenic solutions and supplementary reagents including:

• E. coli and Coliforms (including MLGA Agar)
• Pseudomonas (including Pseudomonas CFC and CN Agar)
• Enterococci (including Slanetz & Bartley Agar)
• Clostridium perfringens (including Perfringens TSC agar and Acid Phosphatase)
• General Recovery (including R2A Agar)

HiCrome™ Chromogenic Coliform Agar is a selective medium designed for the simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli and coliforms in water samples with minimal background flora. This dual chromogenic reaction enables easy differentiation between E. coli and total coliforms in water samples.

Does your laboratory need to comply with the updated EN ISO 7704:2023, the latest standard for labs doing quantitative assessment of water using the membrane filtration technique? In this interview, Dr. Nils Jäger, Application Scientist for Microbiology at Sartorius Lab Instruments, shares his knowledge and experience on practical ways labs can handle the challenges of the revised EN ISO 7704:2023 and maintain or gain accredited status.

Legionella Testing
Sign up for Diamidex's free webinar on December 17th to explore how MICA Advance transforms Legionella pneumophila testing. Experience a culture-based technique delivering precise results within 48 hours - matching or surpassing ISO 11731:2017. Perfect for professionals requiring rapid water microbiology analysis.

CondaLab can supply BCYE ISO agar in both powdered and ready to use formats, featuring optional antibiotic additions alongside BCYE supplements, available in both cysteine-containing and cysteine-free variants. Plus Legionella Latex Tests, enabling Legionella detection while distinguishing between L. pneumophila and alternative species, plus identifying various L. pneumophila serotypes within the species. SGL also offer a range of media and latex agglutination kits for Legionella testing laboratories.

Bioburden and Pharmaceutical Waters
Microview is scheduled to launch a new bio-fluorescence particle counting technology in 2025, with the ability to detect changes in manufacturing air or water systems in real-time, delivering substantial benefits as a process control tool. They are inviting industry partners to join the pre-market user experience program to provide valuable insights and feedback.

Ideal for applications needing to detect less than 10 viable cells in a sample, the Red One™ Solid-Phase Cytometry (SPC) system stands out for its ability in just 10 mins (ie close to real-time) to accurately detect viable microorganisms while minimizing interference from non-viable particles or background noise—a well-known and proven issue with flow cytometry.

From Sample to Result: Key Products for Legionella Testing

Attention! The danger of Legionella might be closer than you think. These harmful bacteria, responsible for serious respiratory diseases, can thrive in any water system.  Condalab offer fast and effective solutions to detect and control Legionella before it becomes a threat.
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Flexible, Rapid, Accurate Testing for E. coli and Coliforms

IDEXX Water testing solutions are approved or accepted by regulatory agencies in over 55 countries, protecting billions of people daily. The tests deliver easy, rapid, accurate, and cost-effective information on water quality to laboratories, public utilities, and facility managers.
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HiCrome Chromogenic Coliform Agar Detects E. coli and Coliforms in Water Samples

HiCrome™ Chromogenic Coliform Agar is a specialized medium for simultaneously detecting E. coli and coliforms in water samples. It utilizes color-changing enzymatic reactions to differentiate between E. coli and other coliforms enabling easy identification in various water sources.
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Premium Culture Media Solutions for Water Analysis from SGL

SGL is one of the largest providers of pre-poured microbiological culture media for all applications in water testing. This ranges from estimation of overall numbers of culturable micro-organisms to detection of waterborne contamination, including the specific isolation of Legionella pneumophilia.
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Revolutionizing Legionella pneumophila Detection in Water Microbiology  

Join Diamidex's webinar on December 17th to discover how MICA Advance revolutionizes Legionella pneumophila detection. Learn about a culture-based method providing accurate results in just 48 hours—equivalent or better than ISO 11731:2017. Ideal for those seeking faster water microbiology testing.
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Enhance Your Confidence With Industry-Leading Wastewater CRMs

NSI by ZeptoMetrix provides ISO-accredited CRMs and Proficiency Test Standards, designed to ensure accurate data, support accreditation, and streamline laboratory testing. Their solutions include pre-measured, single-use materials, ready-to-use CRMs, and multi-parameter CRMs for efficient testing.
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The Revised EN ISO 7704:2023 is Advancing Water Quality Analysis, Is Your Lab Keeping Up?

Dr. Nils Jäger, Sartorius Lab Instruments shares ways labs manage the challenges and maintain or gain accredited status. Download Best Practice Guide for New EN ISO 7704:2023; App Note: Microbiological Performance Testing of Membrane Filters or App Note: Enumeration of Clostridium perfringens here.
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Solid-Phase Cytometry: a Rapid and Reliable Solution for Microbial Detection in Waters

Solid-Phase Cytometry (SPC) transforms water quality testing by delivering accurate microbial detection in just 10 minutes. Discover how this advanced technology addresses the limitations of both traditional and flow cytometry methods.
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Coming Soon from MicronView

MicronView is pleased to announce the introduction of our online water bioburden analyzer (WBMS) in 2025. The instrument can continuously monitor purified water, ultra-pure water, and WFI water systems. Deployment can be online, at-line, or lab-based. Join our pre-market user experience program.
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LGC AXIO Proficiency Testing | 2025 Catalogue

Want to learn more about how AXIO PT could help improve your laboratory performance? Download our 2025 catalogue here to learn about PT schemes for various sectors, including food, beverage, water and environmental, consumer safety, clinical, and forensics.
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