Pumps key to cryptosporidium detection system

Watson-Marlow Bredel peristaltic pumps are being used by Genera Technologies in a technological breakthrough in detecting the harmful parasite cryptosporidium in drinking water

Watson-Marlow Bredel peristaltic pumps are being used by Cambridgeshire-based company Genera Technologies in a technological breakthrough in detecting the harmful parasite cryptosporidium in drinking water.

The 505 series pumps are being used to circulate solution around Genera's immuno-magnetic separation process - Puri-Max.

This test system forms part of Genera's unique system for cryptosporidum detection and is used to optimise the water sample ready for the final detection process.

Cryptosporidium outbreaks occur when water filtration systems are not functioning effectively and have been the cause of several health scares in the UK.

In the US there was a serious outbreak in the public water supply in 1993 when 104 people died after drinking contaminated water.

Genera chose peristaltic technology for its water testing apparatus because its scientists felt that there had to be no possibility of cross contamination in the water samples and that the smooth even pressure of the pump was an absolute necessity to ensure continual flow around the sample test.

Thermoplastic "Marprene" tubing is used to transport the sample around the testing apparatus and because fluid is only in contact with the smooth bore of the tube, hygiene is optimised making it ideal for laboratory conditions.

- / In fact, the only routine maintenance on the pump is changing the tube.

Even this operation takes only a few minutes and on completion the pump is ready to use.

The quick tube changeover makes the pump ready to accept new fluids without any risk of cross contamination.

Furthermore, peristaltic pumps have no seals, check valves, diaphragms or glands to leak, clog or corrode.

The Watson-Marlow Bredel 505 series pumps are carefully controlling the speed of flow through the testing apparatus over the two hours it takes to complete the sample result.

Andrew Headland, director of marketing at Genera says "it is imperative that each part of our equipment is up to an extremely high standard, basically Watson-Marlow Bredel peristaltic pumps had the only technology that was fit for our purpose." Ease of operation and simple tube changeover is about to become increasingly more important with the introduction of an amendment to the Water Supply Regulations introduced in June last year.

The new rules stipulate that there must be daily analysis of water in those sites that are liable to risk - such as food processing plants and similar industrial processes.

The Genera system is currently being validated to comply with these regulations.

All water companies must have testing procedures in place by March 2000.

Companies using the Genera system to monitor water at source i.e rivers and boreholes include companies in the UK, Hong Kong, South Africa, USA, Australia and New Zealand.

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