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New Product Offering – Determining Viable Legionella!
The Phigenics Validation Test is a new field method for the quantitative determination of viable Legionella and total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria. The method has been proven reliable for determining viable cell concentrations of Legionella pneumophila, Legionella species and total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria. In comparison to standard methods, the new protocol has been shown to be more accurate, faster and more convenient.
The Issue
Currently, measurement of viable Legionella and other bacteria using standard culture methods require shipment of water samples to an analytical laboratory. The results typically take 12-14 days which can leave facilities in a holding pattern. The shipment of water samples can cause unpredictable changes: In some water samples, viable bacteria increase during transit and in other samples they decrease. When the facility receives their Legionella results, these challenges can make interpretation and decision-making difficult.
The Solution
The patents pending Phigenics Validation Test (PVT) completely eliminates the need to ship water samples, thereby giving more reliable data about the water system. The PVT is a field sampling protocol to obtain viable cell counts (CFU/ml) for the following:
* Total heterotrophic aerobic bacteria
* Legionella pneumophila (serogroup 1 and serogroups 2-14)
* All non-pneumophila Legionella species
Data is obtained for the exact moment when the PVT field sampler contacts the water sample
* Shipment of water samples to laboratory is not required
* Time required to obtain results is reduced 75-80% compared to the Standard Method for Legionella
Test results including quantitative viable cell counts, digital photographs of the field samplers and authenticity labels are emailed to the facility, typically within 2-3 days of sampling.
The PVT validates under operating conditions in the field that bacterial hazards in water have been eliminated, reduced or prevented from harming people (Principle 7 in Hazard Analysis and Control)
The Benefits
Compared to the Standard Methods for total bacteria and Legionella, the PVT is:
* More Accurate, because water samples are not compromised during shipment to the laboratory.
* Faster, because transit time is not wasted and microcolonies are enumerated directly on the PVT field samplers.
* More Convenient, because results for total bacteria AND Legionella bacteria are obtained and archived by the Phigenics Analytical Services Laboratory in a standardized protocol for future reference.
More Information…
If you are interested in how the PVT can address the safety of water systems in your facility, please contact Phigenics (630-717-7546) or
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for more information.
Download MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for pH Adjust
Phigenics pH Adjust MSDS Sheet
Service and Product Offerings
Many facility managers depend upon their suppliers who sell products to keep their water systems running properly. In most cases, suppliers recommend only the products they sell. These products can be limited in their cost effectiveness and may not adequately address safety issues. They may even be detrimental with regard to protecting people from hazards in the water system such as waterborne pathogens. For example, many chemicals used are a nutrient to pathogens and can be replaced with much more cost effective options.
Phigenics is owned and managed independently. Our only bias is to recommend the chemical/equipment combinations that maximize operational efficiency, minimize costs and safe water system conditions. Experience has shown us that in most cases, inefficient operations in which water and energy are wasted are the systems in which safety can be substantially improved.
We encourage our clients to manage "in-house" as many of their water-related processes as possible. This almost always saves money, enhances performance and improves safety.
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Phigenics Delivers |
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Operational efficiency of water and energy systems at lower cost
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Water Management Plans that independently specify solutions to lower the costs of water, energy, equipment and chemicals
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Safe, hazard-free water systems
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Hazard analysis and control plans to prevent waterborne diseases from harming people
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Supplier management
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Independent consultative service to ensure optimal value from suppliers of equipment and chemicals
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Training
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In-house training to empower facility personnel to implement their water management plans and to comply with current guidelines and standards
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7 Principles of Process Analysis
Water Management Plans are based on the 7 principles of process analysis and critical point control. The Operational Analysis, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (OHAACP) system is:
1. Establish a team to analyze the operational costs and the hazards using process flow diagrams.
2. Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs)
3. Establish Critical Limits for each CCP (procedures & standards)
4. Establish Monitoring System(s) for each CCP
5. Established Preplanned Corrective Action
6. Establish Documentation Procedures
7. Establish Validation and Verification Procedure
5 Preliminary Steps
In practice, a few preliminary steps are necessary before these seven principles can be applied. They are:
1. Assemble a Phigenics-facilitated HACCP team of facility personnel
2. Identify the end users water especially to determine at-risk consumers
3. Identify all uses for water at the facility
4. Develop process flow diagrams to describe how water is processed in the facility
5. Verify that process flow diagrams are accurate by on-site confirmation
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