POSITIVE CONTROL PRODUCTS FOR
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OOCYSTS AND GIARDIA CYSTS

Why test for Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts?

Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia both belong to a group of micro-organisms known as protozoa and are water and food borne pathogens causing diarrhoea. They are found in the intestinal tract of many animals, including cattle and sheep, and are transmitted by ingestion of oocysts (Cryptosporidium) or cysts (Giardia) excreted in the faeces of infected animals. It is now a legal requirement to treat drinking water to ensure that the average number of Cryptosporidium oocysts per 10 litres is fewer than 1. Furthermore, water supply companies in the UK are obliged to monitor drinking water to ensure this treatment standard is met.

Positive Control Products for Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts.

Procedures to detect Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts within water testing laboratories require the use of positive control products. TCS is the European distributor for BTF (Biotechnology Frontiers). Our quality control products from BTF for Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia cysts include: EasySeed™, EasyPC™ and ColorSeed™.

The products we supply contain precise numbers of inactive gamma-irradiated oocysts of the Iowa strain of Cryptosporidium parvum, approved by the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) for use as an alternative to the Moredun strain in laboratory quality control testing.

We believe that the Iowa strain has advantages over the Moredun strain for the following reasons:

• Quality - Iowa strain oocysts are usually in better condition and show better morphology
• Staining - The Iowa strain displays excellent staining characteristics and reduced variability compared with the Moredun strain
• Availability - The Iowa strain is produced more frequently, and is readily available
• Longevity - The Iowa strain has a long shelf-life (EasySeed™ tubes are stable for 4 months).

EasySeed™

EasySeed™ is a DWI and EPA approved flow sorted control product, perfect for water analysis and testing laboratories to quality control filter elution, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and fluorescence microscopy(click here for details on our IFA Monoclonal antibodies).

EasyPC™

Manufactured with the DWI Regulations in mind, EasyPC™, is used for daily calibration of fluorescence microscopy. EasyPC™ is a quick, cost effective way of ensuring the performance of the IFA monoclonal antibodies, the fluorescence microscope and the analyst.

ColorSeed™

ColorSeed™ is a natural evolution of EasySeed™.  It is robust and extremely easy to use.

 

Each batch of EasySeed™, Easy PC™ and ColorSeed™ is supplied with a certificate of analysis. Further details can be obtained by clicking on the links above or by contacting us. Click here for our on-line enquiry form, or phone +44 (0)1296 714222

Please note: TCS is a distributor of these products in Europe only.

EasySeed™, EasyPC™ and ColorSeed C&G™ are trademarks of Biotechnology Frontiers Pty Ltd.