Aquagenx CBT EC+TC Kit

The Aquagenx CBT EC+TC Kit is a rapid, robust field-based water quality testing solution designed to simultaneously detect Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Total Coliforms in 100 mL water samples. Developed for use in low-resource and remote environments, this kit provides reliable Presence/Absence (P/A) or Most Probable Number (MPN) results without the need for laboratory infrastructure or complex equipment.

With ambient temperature incubation and easy-to-interpret color change results, the Aquagenx CBT EC+TC Kit is ideal for drinking water monitoring, emergency response, rural sanitation programs, and surface water or wastewater testing.

Key Features

• Simultaneous detection of E. coli (EC) and Total Coliforms (TC)
• Tests a full 100 mL sample volume
• No electricity, laboratory equipment, or cold chain required
• Long shelf life: 3 years (growth medium packs)
• Designed for field testing in rural, disaster, and low-resource settings
• Ambient temperature incubation (≥25°C)
• Results available in 20–48 hours
• Works at variable temperatures (no constant incubator needed)
• Clear color-change interpretation
• Compact, lightweight, and minimal consumables
• Meets WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality

Principle of Operation

The kit uses a selective growth medium that supports the detection of:

• E. coli contamination (fecal indicator bacteria)
• Total coliform bacteria (general microbial contamination indicator)

After adding the growth medium to a 100 mL water sample and incubating at ambient temperature, results are determined by visible color changes. Optional UV light can enhance detection of total coliform fluorescence.

Test Formats Available

1. Presence/Absence (P/A) Kits

Provides a simple yes/no result for contamination in 100 mL.

2. Most Probable Number (MPN) Kits

Provides quantitative microbial estimates, suitable for:

• Surface waters
• Wastewater
• Dilution-based microbial enumeration

Ordering Information – P/A Kits

Kit Contents (P/A Format)

• Aquagenx powder growth medium packs
• 100 mL Stand-Up Whirl-Pak® Thio-Bags®

Ordering Information – MPN Kits

Kit Contents (MPN Format)

• Aquagenx powder growth medium packs
• 100 mL Stand-Up Whirl-Pak® Thio-Bags®
• Aquagenx Compartment Bags
• Reusable sealing clips (quantity depends on pack size)

Optional Accessory

• UV Flashlight (sold separately) for enhanced detection of total coliform fluorescence.

Applications

The Aquagenx CBT EC+TC Kit is widely used for:

• Drinking water safety monitoring
• Rural water supply testing
• Emergency and disaster response water quality assessment
• NGO and humanitarian WASH programs
• Wastewater and surface water microbial testing
• UNICEF/WHO rapid water quality projects

Standards & Validation

The Aquagenx CBT EC+TC MPN Kit has been evaluated in WHO-supported studies and benchmarked against reference methods such as IDEXX Colilert Quanti-Tray 2000.

The Aquagenx CBT EC+TC Kit provides a reliable, field-ready solution for rapid detection of E. coli and Total Coliform contamination in water supplies. With no requirement for laboratory equipment, long shelf life, and simple ambient incubation, it is an ideal tool for drinking water monitoring, sanitation programs, and emergency water testing worldwide.