Waterlaboratorium Noord (WLN) has developed new Molecular Methods for the detection of 
indicators of pathogenic microorganisms such as E.coli and Enterococci. The new methods reduce the time from sampling to result to 4 hours. The methods are based on the detection of certain parts of specific genes, present in these bacteria. To obtain a low detection limit comparable to the culturing technique the methods point at Ribosomal RNA instead of DNA, since RNA is always abundant in all living organisms. The second advantage of RNA is the detection of only living bacteria.
The methods are validated according ISO-validation standards and at this moment the methods are implemented within the Dutch drinking water laboratories. Eventually the aim is to make new ISO standards for fast detection of Fecal parameters in drinking water.
For more information please visit: www.wln.nl
