BCS Laboratories, Inc services

Our firm has extensive experience in designing novel protocols for testing experimental devices for the presence of a variety of pathogens. We utilize ASTM, AOAC, and AATCC standards and protocols for evaluating antimicrobial efficacy of novel coatings and disinfectants.

Our Laboratory team routinely monitors for various human pathogens in Biosolids and Soil.  We typically analyze for enteric viruses, Cryptosporidium and Giardia, helminth ova, and bacterial pathogens. We are currently involved in numerous pathogen monitoring projects of biosolids and biosolid amended soils within the state of Florida, throughout the United States, and internationally.

In addition to the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in submitted samples, we also provide potenial viability testing by vital dye staining.  This procedure lacks the sensitivity and accuracy to determine the viability of the detected cysts and oocysts. Thus to reliably and accurately asses viability of Cryptosporidium oocysts, we perform a cell culture infectivity assay. We utilize the foci detection method on infected HCT-8 Cell monolayers.  At the clients request, submitted samples are analyzed for infectious C. parvum as per the method described by Slifko et al. (1999), Johnson et al. (2006), and recommendations from American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AWWARF 3021; Detection of Infectious Cryptosporidium in Filtered Drinking Water).

We provide direct contact cell culture or agar diffusion testing of materials to be used in medical devices or materials for cytotoxicity of CCL-1 (L-929) cell culture. Assessment of cytotoxicity by this method is one of the many tests used to evaluate the biological response to a material intended for medical use.

Cryptosporidiosis is a intestinal disease caused by microscopic parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium. It causes severe diarrhea and is typically self limiting.  Both the disease and the parasite are commonly known as Crypto (CDC info page).Many species of Cryptosporidium exist that infect humans and a wide range of animals. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very resistant to chlorine disinfection. (See EPA Advisory)

Human enteric viruses are often present in domestic sewage, treated wastewater, recreational surface waters, and biosolids intended for land application. The detection of viable viruses indicates the definite presence of fecal pollution and of human pathogens.

In order to meet the demands of our clients, we offer environmental and microbiological consulting, training, and site assesment services to assist in the identification and resolution of unknown problems or concerns. Consulting services are available on a variety of topics in conjunction with our other services.

Federal and state regulatory agencies mandate the use of fecal coliforms, E. coli and/or Enterococci as microbial indicators of water quality. However, these traditional indicators of fecal pollution do not adequately assess the specific sources of pollution or the associated health risks. Many methods have been developed to identify sources of fecal contamination, and this field of study has been collectively termed Microbial Source Tracking (MST). BCS laboratories uses the presence of human-specific polyomaviruses (HPyVs), (JCV and BKV), as an indicator of human fecal pollution in environmental water. HPyVs are ubiquitous throughout the human population and serological studies speculate 60-80% of adults harbor antibodies against HPyVs. They are secreted in the urine in high titers and mostly cause asymptomatic infections. Infected individuals shed viruses throughout their life span.