BioTox™ WaterTox™ Standard Kit
The complete ISO 11348-3 Aliivibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition toxicity test — a direct replacement for traditional Vibrio fischeri acute toxicity methods including Microtox®. All reagents and solutions included. Rapid results in 5–30 minutes for clear water, effluent, and field toxicity screening.
The BioTox™ WaterTox™ Standard Kit provides a complete, self-contained setup for performing the ISO 11348-3 Aliivibrio fischeri acute toxicity test. Designed as a direct replacement for traditional Vibrio fischeri methods including Microtox®, the kit includes all required reagents, diluents, and osmotic adjustment solutions needed to immediately adopt the assay using existing luminometers including the M500.
Aliivibrio fischeri naturally produces bioluminescence proportional to its metabolic activity. When exposed to a toxic sample, bioluminescence is inhibited in proportion to toxicity. A dilution series is prepared and light output measured after 5–30 minutes incubation. EC50 values and % inhibition are calculated from the dose–response curve using luminometer software or EBPI’s Microtox calculation spreadsheet. The WaterTox™ Standard Kit is the most widely used Aliivibrio fischeri method internationally and works exceptionally well for clear water samples.
- Test organismAliivibrio fischeri (formerly Vibrio fischeri) — freeze-dried lyophilized reagent
- EndpointBioluminescence inhibition; % inhibition of light output relative to negative control
- Result expressionEC50 (effective concentration causing 50% inhibition); % inhibition at fixed concentrations
- Incubation times5, 15, and 30 minutes (ISO 11348-3 standard)
- Result timeAs rapid as 5–30 minutes from sample addition
- Sample typeClear water samples; surface water, groundwater, effluents, drinking water
- InstrumentAny ISO 11348-3 approved luminometer; compatible with M500 (Microtox®) and portable field models
- Reagent vials10 vials × 100 toxicity determinations per vial (1,000 total determinations per kit)
- ISO StandardISO 11348-3 — Water Quality: Inhibitory Effect of Water Samples on Light Emission of Aliivibrio fischeri
📧 Order or Enquire
🍁 Ships from Burlington, Ontario, Canada · International shipping available · Cold-chain packaging included
What’s Included in Product No. 1243-1000
All reagents and solutions are provided ready-to-use. No additional reagent preparation is required beyond reconstitution of the lyophilized bacteria.
📦 Complete Kit Components
Simple Assay Procedure — Results in 5–30 Minutes
Reconstitute
Rehydrate lyophilized Aliivibrio fischeri reagent vial with reagent diluent for 30 min at (4°C); allow bacteria to equilibrate at test temperature (15°C)
Prepare Sample
Adjust sample osmolarity with OAS; prepare dilution series using sample diluent to cover the expected EC50 range
Measure Baseline
Read initial (T=0) bioluminescence of each well or cuvette using the luminometer before sample addition
Add Sample & Incubate
Add sample dilutions to bacteria; incubate 5, 15, or 30 minutes at 15°C according to ISO 11348-3 protocol
Read & Calculate
Measure final bioluminescence; calculate % inhibition at each concentration; determine EC50 using luminometer software or EBPI’s Microtox calculation spreadsheet
Microtox® Compatible — Drop-In Replacement
The BioTox™ WaterTox™ Standard Kit is fully compatible with the Microtox® M500 analyzer and all other ISO 11348-3 approved luminometers. Existing Microtox® users can switch directly to BioTox™ reagents without any protocol changes — the same instrument, the same procedure, and the same ISO standard. Benchtop and portable luminometer models are both suitable, making this kit equally at home in the laboratory and in the field. EBPI also provides a Microtox calculation spreadsheet for EC50 and % inhibition calculation outside of proprietary software environments.
Why Choose the WaterTox™ Standard Kit?
🏢 ISO 11348-3 Standardized
Fully compliant with ISO 11348-3, the internationally recognized standard for Aliivibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition toxicity testing.
⚡ Rapid Results
Complete toxicity determination including EC50 calculation in as little as 5–30 minutes from sample addition — far faster than any whole-organism bioassay.
📈 EC50 & % Inhibition
Quantitative results expressed as EC50 and/or % inhibition at fixed concentrations, suitable for regulatory reporting and trend monitoring.
🔬 Sensitive & Reproducible
Highly sensitive to organic contaminants. Excellent inter-laboratory reproducibility when conducted according to ISO 11348-3 protocol with the OAS adjustment step.
💥 Benchtop or Portable
Any ISO-approved luminometer is suitable — benchtop (M500) or portable handheld models. Take the assay from the laboratory into the field for on-site toxicity screening.
💰 Low Cost per Sample
At 100 determinations per vial and 10 vials per kit, the cost per individual toxicity determination is very competitive compared to other whole-organism bioassays.
Drinking Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring
The WaterTox™ Standard Kit is widely used across water quality monitoring programs internationally. Its speed, sensitivity, and ISO 11348-3 compliance make it an ideal screening tool for both routine monitoring and incident response.
💧 Drinking Water & Source Water
The rapid result time and high sensitivity of the Aliivibrio fischeri assay make the WaterTox™ Standard Kit an efficient screening tool for drinking water quality programs:
- Source water and reservoir acute toxicity screening
- Treated drinking water quality monitoring
- Disinfection by-product (DBP) toxicity assessment
- Groundwater contamination screening
- Distribution system monitoring for toxicity exceedances
- Source Water Protection Plan (SWPP) investigations
Complement with the UMU-ChromoTest™ (ISO 13829) for a combined acute toxicity + genotoxicity screening package.
🏭 Wastewater, Effluent & Environmental Monitoring
The ISO 11348-3 assay is one of the most widely used methods for industrial and municipal effluent toxicity monitoring worldwide:
- Industrial effluent toxicity screening and compliance monitoring
- Municipal WWTP influent and effluent toxicity characterization
- Combined sewer overflow (CSO) event monitoring
- Mining and leachate effluent acute toxicity
- Spill response and emergency toxicity screening
- Receiving water body toxicity trend monitoring
Combine with the Toxi-ChromoTest™ for a two-assay acute toxicity battery on the same sample.
Full Range of Applications
Industrial Effluent Compliance
Rapid pre-discharge toxicity screening and monitoring of industrial effluents against permit conditions.
Municipal Wastewater
WWTP influent and effluent toxicity monitoring, treatment efficiency evaluation, and CSO event characterization.
Drinking Water Monitoring
Source water and treated water toxicity screening, disinfection by-product assessment, and routine quality monitoring.
Spill Response & Field Testing
On-site acute toxicity screening during spill events and environmental incidents using portable luminometers.
Chemicals & Process Waters
Acute toxicity screening of industrial chemicals, cooling waters, process effluents, and formulated products.
Surface Water & Groundwater
Ambient toxicity monitoring of rivers, lakes, estuaries, and groundwater for contamination assessment and trend analysis.
Mining & Leachate
Acid mine drainage, tailings pond water, and leachate acute toxicity screening for environmental impact assessment.
Marine & Saline Samples
Aliivibrio fischeri is a marine bacterium naturally suited to saline matrices, making it ideal for coastal and estuarine monitoring.
Research & Education
Widely used in academic, regulatory, and industrial research. Compatible with EBPI’s Microtox calculation spreadsheet for data analysis.
Kit Specifications & Performance Characteristics
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Number | 1243-1000 |
| Product Name | BioTox™ WaterTox™ Standard Kit |
| Test Organism | Aliivibrio fischeri (formerly Vibrio fischeri) — freeze-dried lyophilized reagent, reconstituted before use |
| Test Principle | Bioluminescence inhibition — reduction in light output relative to a negative control indicates toxicity |
| ISO Standard | ISO 11348-3 — Water Quality: Determination of the Inhibitory Effect of Water Samples on the Light Emission of Aliivibrio fischeri |
| Incubation Times | 5, 15, and 30 minutes at 15°C (ISO 11348-3 standard endpoints) |
| Result Expression | EC50 (mg/L or % v/v); % inhibition at fixed concentrations; dose–response curve |
| Reagent Vials | 10 vials × 100 toxicity determinations = 1,000 total determinations per kit |
| Instrument Compatibility | Any ISO 11348-3 approved luminometer including Microtox® M500; benchtop or portable models |
| Sample Types | Clear water samples: surface water, groundwater, effluents, drinking water, process waters |
| Osmotic Adjustment | Osmotic Adjustment Solution (OAS) included; required for freshwater samples to match bacterial requirements |
| Reagent Manufacturer | Aboatox (Finland) — high-quality Aliivibrio fischeri reagents; sourced and distributed in Canada by EBPI |
| Canadian Distributor | EBPI — Environmental Bio-Detection Products Inc., Burlington ON, Canada |
Other BioTox™ Kits & Complementary Tests
Contact EBPI for pricing, instrument compatibility questions, or guidance on selecting the right BioTox™ kit for your sample type and application.