Improving Water Sampling for Shellfish Pathogens

InnovaPrep, a Drexel, Missouri-based microbiological tech company, received federal funding to develop a first-generation system for onsite processing of large volumes of shellfish-growing waters, to prepare them for Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), which could be analysed onsite or easily sent elsewhere. The goal is to allow real-time sea water monitoring for vibrios and, eventually, other human pathogens that can accumulate in shellfish, using small, highly concentrated water samples.

TerrAqua’s role: Helping to ensure that the process while it’s being designed can best help the shellfish industry and the labs that support it.