Rapid and Robust Test Results for ESBL E. coli in the Field
Antimicrobials are medicines used to prevent and treat infections in humans, animals and plants. Over time, bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and no longer respond to them, which makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of disease spread, severe illness and death.
A common strain of AMR E. coli is called ESBL (extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing) E. coli. These strains are considered critical priority pathogens by the World Health Organization (WHO).
AMR and Water Quality
When humans and animals have persistent ESBL E. coli in their gut or consume them, their infected feces can enter drinking water sources, wastewaters, healthcare facility effluent and sewerage, food crop irrigation water, other agricultural waters, poultry and livestock production waters, and recreational waters. Even properly functioning wastewater treatment systems may not fully remove AMR ESBL E. coli.
Major Global Problem
Antimicrobial resistance poses a major threat to human health around the world and impacts the human, food chain and environment sectors. AMR is a leading cause of death around the world. According to the WHO, antimicrobial resistance is one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths.
WHO Tricycle Protocol
Effective monitoring and surveillance of water is needed to support prevention and control of AMR occurrence and transmission. The WHO Tricycle Protocol encourages countries and other stakeholders to monitor ESBL E. coli in environmental water samples by using a culture based monitoring method (page 31). The Tricycle Protocol encompasses a cross-sector “One Health” approach to contain this problem, namely by monitoring ESBL E. coli across the human, animal and environmental sectors.
Aquagenx AMR ESBL E. coli Test Kits
Aquagenx’s groundbreaking water quality field tests let anyone monitor AMR ESBL E. coli. Test results with our kits demonstrate excellent correlation to standard culture-based methods in the WHO Tricycle Protocol. Aquagenx AMR ESBL E. coli water quality test kits quantify ESBL E. coli in 100 mL samples. They are simple tests that are designed for on-site field testing:
- No electricity, lab, cold chain or expensive, complicated equipment required
- Low cost and portable
- Easy to use for field level testing in low resource, rural, disaster/emergency areas
- Ambient temperature incubation at 25° Celsius and above
- Ambient temperature test results in 20-48 hours
- Works at variable temperatures, constant temperature control not required
- One-year shelf life of AMR E. coli growth medium
- Color change test results easy to interpret
- Compact and lightweight, small number of consumables
- Test wastewaters by diluting samples:
Papers About Our Test Kits
Comparison of the Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) E. coli Compartment Bag Test Method to the World Health Organization Tricycle Protocol in North Carolina Surface Waters (Journal of Environmental Health)
Lack of wastewater treatment in a small town drives the spread of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli in irrigation waters (Journal of Environmental Quality)
CBT AMR EC MPN Kits
Most Probable Number (MPN) in 100 mL
Image: CBT AMR EC MPN Kit 50-Pack
CBT AMR EC MPN Kit 25-Pack
Product Number: CBT-AMR-EC-MPN-25
25 samples
Kit contains:
25 Aquagenx powder growth medium packs
25 100-mL Stand-Up Whirl-Pak® Thio-Bags®
25 Aquagenx Compartment Bags
1 reusable clip to seal compartment bag shut. Extra clips sold separately.
CBT AMR EC MPN Kit 50-Pack
Product Number: CBT-AMR-EC-MPN-50
50 samples
Kit contains:
50 Aquagenx powder growth medium packs
50 100-mL Stand-Up Whirl-Pak Thio-Bags
50 Aquagenx Compartment Bags
2 reusable clips to seal compartment bag shut. Extra clips sold separately.
CBT AMR EC MPN Kit 100-Pack
Product Number: CBT-AMR-EC-MPN-100
100 samples
Kit contains:
100 Aquagenx powder growth medium packs
100 100-mL Stand-Up Whirl-Pak Thio-Bags
100 Aquagenx Compartment Bags
4 reusable clips to seal compartment bag shut. Extra clips sold separately.
GEL AMR EC CFU Kits
Colony Forming Units (CFU) in 100 mL
Image: GEL AMR EC CFU Kit 50-Pack
GEL AMR EC CFU Kit 25-Pack
Product Number: GEL-AMR-EC-CFU-25
25 samples
Kit contains:
25 Aquagenx EC powder growth medium packs
25 100-mL Stand-Up Whirl-Pak® Thio-Bags®
25 GEL Powder packs
25 GEL Bags
GEL AMR EC CFU Kit 50-Pack
Product Number: GEL-AMR-EC-CFU-50
50 samples
Kit contains:
50 Aquagenx EC powder growth medium packs
50 100-mL Stand-Up Whirl-Pak® Thio-Bags®
50 GEL Powder packs
50 GEL Bags
GEL AMR EC CFU Kit 100-Pack
Product Number: GEL-AMR-EC-CFU-100
100 samples
Kit contains:
100 Aquagenx EC powder growth medium packs
100 100-mL Stand-Up Whirl-Pak® Thio-Bags®
100 GEL Powder packs
100 GEL Bags
Who Should Test
- Government agencies, health and agriculture departments and ministries
- Wastewater and sewage treatment operations
- Healthcare facilities and hospitals
- Poultry and livestock food production facilities
- Veterinary and animal agriculture feeding operations
- Other agricultural operations, such as for irrigation water
- Recreational water operators
Instructions for Use and Resources
Click the button below to download instructions, view how-to videos, and read other helpful product resources.
CBT AMR EC Kit Components
Growth Medium
Aquagenx powder growth medium dissolves quickly
Compartment Bag
Aquagenx Compartment Bag included with MPN Kits
Whirl-Pak Thio-Bag
100 mL Whirl-Pak Thio-Bag for sample collection and P/A Kits
Seal Clip
Seal clip snaps on Compartment Bag to prevent leakage
GEL AMR EC CFU Kit Components
E. coli Medium
Aquagenx E. coli medium for GEL test dissolves quickly
Whirl-Pak Thio-Bag
100 mL Whirl-Pak Thio-Bag for sample collection
GEL Powder
GEL powder makes sample gelatinous
GEL Bag
GEL bag holds the sample during incubation period