Acute Toxicity
Toxicity of environmental samples is an important aspect of pollution monitoring and risk assessment. Commonly employed chemical parameters for analysis are accurate and sensitive for specific molecules under investigation, but give no information regarding biological effects within the ecosystem. These methods also ignore synergistic effects from compound mixtures and can underestimate toxic potential of a sample. Evaluation of biological effects using rapid, simple and cost effective methods can provide information on whole sample effects and incorporate these important toxicity parameters into regulatory frameworks. EBPI offers several bacterial-based tests that assess samples for cytotoxicity from acutely toxic compounds. These methods are cost-effective and sensitive for many different toxic substances such as heavy metals, organic contaminants, and inorganic pollutants from a variety of sources.
Two different test endpoints are offered depending on laboratory capabilities. Both colorimetric changes and luminescence inhibition are available to quantify toxicity in samples originating from mine tailings or industrial waste effluent. These kit are especially useful to rapidly screen many samples at once as short incubation times and rapid responses mean that total assay time can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. The assay methods also have limited storage and equipment requirements and have been adapted for field use in remote locations. Several kit formulations are offered to meet budget constraints laboratory limitations and EBPI is committed to working with you to provide assessment strategies to meet your budget.
Toxi-ChromoTest and ChromoPad Kits
Toxi-ChromoTest™ Kit
A microplate toxicity bioassay to determine acute and chronic toxicity in water, effluents, and other liquids. The Toxi-ChromoTestTM procedure exposes the bacteria to the toxicants in the sample for a short (90-minute) incubation period. After the incubation period, a chromogenic substrate is added. If the sample is toxic, no colour will develop and if the sample is non-toxic, a distinctive blue colour quickly develops. The kit provides a clear, completely objective measurement of the toxicity of the sample by a simple visual qualitative evaluation of the colour obtained, or quantitatively by spectrophotometry using a micro-plate reader.
Toxi-ChromoPad™ Kit
The assay allows the bacteria to grow in direct contact with the toxicants in the sample, eliminating expensive extraction procedures. The endpoint of the assay is an easy to interpret colour reaction. If the sample is toxic, no colour will develop; if the sample is non-toxic, a distinctive blue colour develops around the sample.
Sedi-Tox™ Direct Sediment Toxicity Test
7032 Direct Contact Sediment Toxicity Test
The SediTox™ kit is sensitive to a wide spectrum of toxic substances such as heavy metals, organic and inorganic pollutants, antibiotics and priority contaminants. The assay detects toxicity directly without labour intensive solvent extraction procedures. The sensitivity of the assay combined with its ease of use make it an essential research tool that can be used qualitatively for field measurements and quantitatively in the laboratory to compare relative toxicity between samples. The assay is based on the ability of a toxicant to inhibit the de novo synthesis of an inducible enzyme (β-galactosidase) in a highly permeable mutant of E. coli and the results manifest as an easily observable colour change after a short incubation period.
Aliivibrio fischeri (formerly Vibrio Fischeri) Tests
1243-1000 BioTox WaterTox Standard Kit
The WaterTox STD (Standard) kit is packaged to provide users with a complete setup to replace traditional vibrio fischeri acute toxicity tests (Microtox® users). All required reagents and solutions are included with the kit to permit facile adoption using current detectors like the M500.
1243-500 BioTox WaterTox EVO Kit
The WaterTox EVO (Evolution) is packaged as a cost effective alternative to the 1243-1000 Water Toxicity Kit. Bacterial reagents are packaged to permit less reagent waste for smaller sample numbers. The operation protocol has also been simplified to reduce pipetting steps and a salt tablet is included instead of OAS solution and sample diluent to reduce costs in shipping. Results can be interpreted by any approved ISO luminometer.
1243-700 BioTox LumoPlate Ultimate Matrix Kit
This kit is provides complete solutions for clients requiring a more accurate and robust assay system that employs the kinetic method for determining toxicity. This method accounts for sample coloration and turbidity and can be used for direct measurement of soil and sediment samples without time consuming correction procedures or filtration. Bacterial reagents are packaged to accommodate 1 entire 96-well plate. Cooling block and luminometer manufactured by Labrox is also offered to provide a complete set up. Individual replacement kit components can be purchased and reagent lease options are available for qualified clients.
1243-70 BioTox LumoStix Instant Kit
This kit includes reagent, diluent and LumoStix™ devices to conduct 20 individual measurements. Bacteria are packaged to permit 4 determinations per vial and the LumoStix™ devices are manufactures for use in the portable Kikkoman PD30 luminometer. Replacement kit components can be bought individually to meet testing requirements.