FAQ
You go to our webshop and select the products you want. If you have an account, log in and place an order. We will send you a quote that you can agree to by email. The order will be shipped to you and delivered to you within 4-8 weeks.
You can only order if you have an account. You create a new account. The application will be assessed by us within 1 to 2 working days. After approval, you will receive the login details and you can place the order. The first order must be paid in advance. After this you can order on account.
The delivery time is 4 to 8 weeks.
Yes, in the WHO guidelines for drinking water quality, qPCR is named as one of the technolgies to detect organisms. See https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549950, paragraph 7.4, page 174
No. Udetect on site and in field can be used by non-specialists with a short online training. Watch the video with Sander van Eijck from AQUON
An example of the output: Legionella: 1,3*10EXP3/ml
Not really. Udetect uses qPCR technology which is a different technique the culture based analysis. The techniques have a different output. We made a comparison for E.coli. CLcik here for more information (link to page with MPN/qPCR results). There have been some studies on comparing qPCR with MPN, e.g. from AGLAE in France (see link http://www.association-aglae.fr/sites/default/files/rapport_Legionella_par_PCR.pdf , in french).
If you want to compare results, you have to make a new baseline with qpCR analyses and compare them with MPN. We have data available, look at our website.
Yes, KWR and Deltares have validated and compared Udetect with MPN and qPCR analysis in the lab. Check our website for the results.
It takes 20-30 minutes of treatment time and less than 90 minutes of waiting time. Less than 2 hours in total.
The detection limit depends on the type of water being analyzed and the filtered volume. It will probably be in the 1/10 ml range.
Typically it is possible to filter anywhere from 200 ml- 10 litres.You can determine the volume for your opimal detection limit by performing a simple test.
See our list (link). In principle, all micro-organisms can be analysed with Udetect. We are constantly developing new targets. If you want to analyse bacteria that are not listed and you want to analyse on a regular basis (>250 times a year), please contact us about the possibilities (link to contact form).
We are developing software for digital sharing of results.
Damaged nonviable cells may be detected by qPCR.
If metabolically active cells are present, then detecting RNA lowers the detection limit of an assay. However the analysis is then no longer quantitative as it is unknown if there are many inactive cells present, or just a few active ones. It depends on the use case whether this is necessary or not.
Tests are performed almost exclusively with environmental E. coli, not laboratory strains.
We are constantly developing new targets.If you want to analyse bacteria that are not listed and you want to analyse on a regular basis (>250 times a year), please contact us about the possibilities (link to contact form).
We design our own primers and do not simply use primers published in scientific literature as we have found that these can underperform in practise (unspecific, inefficient, …), especially when used for analysis of environmental samples.
Udetect is a complete pipeline, from water sample to result. Orvion has years of practical experience measuring bacteria in environmental water samples by qPCR. qPCR has its origin in the medical or food/feed sector and suppliers of qPCR/kits are therefore often mainly active in this sector. However, this is a very different use case when compared to the environmental sector (water samples can vary significantly in turbidity, pH, conductivity, etc.).
This depends on how many targets and controls you want to include in a run. There are 16 spots available in the Udetect device. If analysing 1 bacterium, then 8 samples can be run at the same time (each sample is analysed for the internal control and then separately for the target). Alternatively it is possible to analyse 1 sample for 15 targets (the last spot is for the internal control).
It’s a step by step protocol. No centrifuge, no incubation at specific temperatures, no phenol and/or chloroform, etc. Generally a lab protocol takes about 40-60 minutes (although this is sometimes longer), Udetect DNA isolation takes 15-20 minutes.
qPCR thermocycler, rack for DNA isolation, vacuum pump for water filtration and a protective case if required.
General/total coliforms are not a genetically distinct group of micro-organisms and therefore can’t as such be analysed by qPCR (requires a genetic similarity). For culturing they are typified as being lactase positive and a qPCR might therefore be used for the lacZ gen. This is something we could look into or develop a kit for if there is sufficient interest.
To avoid cross-contamination, it is imperative that we use sterile single-use plastics.
Yes, in principle, Udetect is suitable for analysing virusses. We are currently testing an analysis on COVID19 RNA (see link). When the validation phase is finished, it will be added to our Target Tube list. If you are considering measuring viruses in water on a regular basis (>250 times a year), please contact us about the possibilities.
qPCR, or quantative Polymerase Chain Reaction, quantifies the amount of DNA (or cells) of bacteria or virusses in a sample. In the case of Udetect, it analysis the amount of e.g. Enterococcus in a water sample.
One year at room temperature if stored in the dark.
Udetect is also available for labs that already do qPCR analysis as "white lable qPCR". You can order Udetect Target Tubes, see our list of analysis. We offer customized software for quantification purposes. Contact us for more information.