Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

The presence of bacteria in water samples could have different implications depending on the nature of thewater. For example, maintaining a healthy microbial population is critical in the biological treatment ofwastewater. In contrast, having elevated levels of some types of bacteria in drinking water could haveimplications for human health. It is therefore valuable to have a rapid method for quantifying the amount ofbacteria in different water samples. A number of rapid microbiological monitoring methods have evolved overthe last few decades, and among them is the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) test. The measurement of ATPconcentrations (via the ATP test) in a sample provides a direct measurement of both the health and theconcentration of the biological community.The first versions of these ATP-based methods (1st generation ATP tests) were designed for surface cleanlinessapplications and are susceptible to interferences caused by various components in a water sample. As a result,they have limited applicability to different water and wastewater samples. In response to the need to have arapid method for determining microbial concentrations in water samples, LuminUltra has developed thenext-generation of ATP tests that addresses the interference issues that were problematic in the 1st generationtests. By mitigating the effects of these interferences, these new 2nd generation ATP tests are designedspecifically for water and wastewater applications. These tests provide an indication of total microbialconcentrations in a sample within minutes of sample collection.The main objective of this project is to assist the company in the research and development of the secondgeneration ATP tests by conducting research on the product's precision, reproducibility and limits of detectionin wastewater and drinking water samples. The results of this applied research will help the company gainmarket entry.