We offer a comprehensive service from sampling to field and laboratory measurements and when needed, deliver your sample for specialized measurements to our subcontractors. Broad sampling and interpretation of the results is often a part of determining process problems.

Comprehensive service where the customer is

Sampling is an important part of the measurement and correct sampling is fundamental to the reliability of the results. We help you choose the sampling points and take samples for further processing. At the same time, we can measure, for example, oxygen and RedOx, which are easiest to determine right on the spot with field measurements. When needed, we rent out field measurement instruments and provide training on the use of the instrument. If the sampling is to continue for a longer period of time, we advise on sampling and provide written sampling instructions. We provide you with personnel to your own laboratory when you need more competent hands.

We measure microbes with DNA, RNA and ATP based culture-independent methods

Culture independent ATP analysis measures the product of the primary metabolism of cells, adenosine triphosphate. ATP is present in all live cells; thus ATP measures the sum of all live microbe cells. The measurement is performed with a field measurement instrument, so it can also be done where you are. Measurement is fast and delivers the result in approximately 10 minutes. ATP measurement provides a quick overview on the microbiological state of water and is well suited for continuous quality monitoring.

In routine measurements, we use the qPCR method, which is faster and more accurate compared to culture methods. We can determine the total microbe levels and the most important bacteria groups of the water environment, and are able to cut into microbe metabolism. We continuously develop new methods in order to measure water environment microbes fast and even more comprehensively. We are able to measure RNA with RT-qPCR.

We also have the possibility to do Next Generation Sequencing, which reveals the spectrum of the microbiota.  Next Generation Sequencing, i.e. NGS, is a technique, which quickly and efficiently determines the base pair sequence of all of the microbe DNA in the samples, even when the number of samples is high. When we know the base pair sequence of the microbe DNA, they can be identified even up to the species level by using various databases. Next Generation Sequencing is more comprehensive than culture or qPCR techniques that cannot determine all the microbes in the samples simultaneously.

We also provide microbiological laboratory tests when you need them for product development or marketing. We test the microbiological properties of your product, and qPCR measurements give a more accurate picture of the anti-microbiological efficacy than the culture results.

By combining DNA based measurement to a specialized preliminary processing, we are able to separately measure either all live microbes or a specific microbe group, for example live legionella bacteria or live enterobacteria.

Fast microbiological qPCR determinations for water and biofilm microbes: 

• Total bacteria
• Fungus (yeasts and mold) and Eukaryotes
• α-proteobacteria
• β-proteobacteria
• Enterobacteria and E.coli 
• Legionella family and virulent L.pneumophila strains
• Important actinobacteria and bacteroidetes in natural waters
• Taxonomic class Bacillus
• Taxonomic class Deinococcus
• Determinations of faeces contamination that are based on the most important bacteria groups of the intestines
• Sulphate-reducing bacteria
• Archeons and methane producers
• Denitrifying bacteria
• Nitrogen-fixing bacteria

We also provide a wide range of other analyses, do not hesitate to ask for more information.

Examples of available water analyses:

• CODMn and CODCr
• Aluminum
• Boron
• Phosphate and total phosphorous
• Dissolved solids
• Chloride
• Total nitrogen, nitrate, nitrite and ammonium
• Hardness, Calcium ja magnesium
• Copper
• Nickel
• pH
• Iron
• RedOx
• Turbidity
• Silicate
• Sulfate, sulfite, sulfur
• Conductivity
• TOC
• Free and total chlorine