Until now, water analysis results took several days, but with the new method based on qPCR analysis, we have results within five hours. Speed can be absolutely crucial in taking effective measures to protect health.
The new method detects and identifies the DNA of pathogenic microorganisms, so there is no need to cultivate bacteria in nutrient solutions in the laboratory and wait several days for their colonies to grow in Petri dishes. The method is available at the CXI TUL Analytical Laboratory.
„We are able to obtain results within a few hours of receiving the sample. This allows water system operators to respond almost immediately—for example, to adjust operations, disinfect, or restrict water use before the problem spreads,“ explains Magda Nechanická from the Department of Environmental Technology at the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies, and Innovation at TUL (CXI), who developed and verified the new method.
The speed of detection is particularly crucial for pathogens that can pose a significant health risk, such as Escherichia coli or Legionella pneumophila.
The only one in the region and in the country
Rapid molecular genetic analysis based on qPCR analysis is now offered to the general public at the CXI TUL Analytical Laboratory, the only facility of its kind in the Liberec Region. „Interested parties can have us perform both routine laboratory water analyses and modern qPCR analysis focused on the rapid detection of pathogens in water or biofilm,“ says Lenka Lacinová from the CXI TUL Analytical Laboratory. In addition to the above, the laboratory also provides accredited sampling and analysis of drinking water, hot water, and bathing water, as well as inspections of sterilizers and autoclaves.
CXI TUL is also the first facility in the Czech Republic to develop, verify, and successfully bring this methodology to the stage of official accreditation, and it is now the only laboratory in the Czech Republic capable of analyzing the entire range of microbiological organisms from drinking, recreational, and warm water.
The future of water monitoring
Another significant advantage of molecular genetic methods is that they are not limited to microorganisms that can be cultivated in the laboratory. qPCR analysis can also detect pathogens present in biofilms or in forms that conventional methods overlook, thus providing a more realistic picture of the actual state of water systems.
Molecular genetic methods thus have the potential to become an important part of routine water monitoring. Their use leads to faster identification of problems, more effective protection of public health, and overall greater safety of water resources.
This technology thus represents a significant step towards the modernization of water management practices in the Czech Republic.
The development of the methodology at CXI was supported by the TA ČR SIGMA program and from the outset focused not only on scientific research, but above all on practical application. The goal was to bring the technology to the stage of official accreditation, which is a prerequisite for its use in laboratory practice. And this has been achieved. The technology from TUL is now available to water managers, health stations, and the general public.
Eva Doležalová
Radek Pirkl