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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #411058
Research Project: Managing Nutrients and Assessing Pathogen Emission Risks for Sustainable Dairy Production Systems

Location: Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research

Title: Alternative hemodialysis ultrafilter for sampling microbes in water

Author
item FIRNSTAHL, AARON - Us Geological Survey (USGS)
item DOUGHAN, GABI - Iowa State University
item Opelt, Sarah
item Cook, Rachel
item Heffron, Joseph
item Borchardt, Mark
item KARRIKER, LOCKE - Iowa State University
item STOKDYK, JOEL - Us Geological Survey (USGS)
item Burch, Tucker

Submitted to: American Water Resources Association Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/21/2024
Publication Date: 4/25/2024
Citation: Firnstahl, A.D., Doughan, G., Opelt, S.A., Cook, R.M., Heffron, J.A., Borchardt, M.A., Karriker, L.A., Stokdyk, J.P., Burch, T.R. 2024. Alternative hemodialysis ultrafilter for sampling microbes in water. American Water Resources Association Conference Proceedings. April 25-26, 2024.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Pathogen concentrations in groundwater are often low, so analysis requires concentrating large sample volumes for reliable detection. Dead-end ultrafiltration is a standard method for capturing a wide variety of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa from water. The Asahi Kasei Rexeed™ hemodialyzer is the most widely used ultrafilter for pathogen sampling and is cited in standard methods of the Environmental Protection Agency, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Food and Drug Administration. However, Asahi Kasei operations have concluded in the United States, so a suitable replacement hemodialyzer is needed. Our objective was to evaluate the recovery of another commercially available hemodialyzer (Nipro Elisio™) and compare it to the Asahi Kasei Rexeed™ hemodialyzer. Seven microbes (2 bacteria, 4 viruses, and 1 protozoa) were added to 10L of dechlorinated tap water and concentrated using both hemodialyzers (n=6). After concentration, samples were analyzed by qPCR, and results were compared to control samples (n=6) to evaluate recovery. Recovery efficiencies ranged from 17% to 98% (Rexeed™) and 10% to 100% (Elisio™) depending on microbe, and recoveries for each microbe were comparable between the two filter types. Both filters had a better recovery for protozoa than bacteria and viruses. Results demonstrate the Nipro Elisio™ hemodialyzer is a viable alternative to the Asahi Kasei Rexeed™ hemodialyzer for large volume dead-end ultrafiltration.