Shellfish Pathogen Monitoring Technology Development

Goal: Develop a rapid, field-based system for monitoring pathogens in shellfish-growing waters.

InnovaPrep, a Missouri-based biotechnology company, developed a first-generation system for concentrating large volumes of seawater into small samples suitable for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. The technology was designed to enable rapid detection of Vibrio and other human pathogens in shellfish-growing waters, supporting real-time monitoring by growers, regulators, and laboratories.

TerrAqua served on the development team, helping ensure that the technology and sampling protocols met the practical needs of the shellfish industry and the laboratories that support it. Our role focused on improving the system's usefulness for field monitoring, laboratory analysis, and commercial application.