The Australian Water Quality Center (AWQC) is the first laboratory in Australia to use bacterial DNA molecular analysis to optimize water quality management and is fully accredited by the National Association of Testing Laboratories (NATA).

Thorsten Mosisch, Ph.D., Manager of Field and Life Science Services at AWQC, says that bacterial DNA testing methods characterize entire microbial communities, which are difficult to successfully isolate by traditional culture methods, and have the potential to be seen to date. He said that it is possible to clarify the diversity of microorganisms that were not there before.

“AWQC, a leader in the field of microbiological testing and analysis, has an unparalleled track record of developing and validating more effective test methods for detecting waterborne pathogens to protect public health.” said Dr. Thorsten.

“Proper assessment of pathogens as part of water quality monitoring is essential for operational decision-making when improving water treatment processes to prevent waterborne disease outbreaks.”

According to Dr. Thorsten, the most likely health risk associated with drinking water is contamination with microbial pathogens, and the continued safety of water supplies relies heavily on microbiological testing.

“In response, we have developed an advanced next-generation sequencing (NGS) DNA test to optimize water quality management,” said Dr. Thorsten.

“As part of that, we have curated Australia’s most extensive DNA database of waterborne microbial pathogens and developed a molecular test that provides unmatched pathogen test results across a wide range of applications.”

Obtaining and maintaining NATA accreditation requires a rigorous process that includes regular laboratory reviews and audits conducted by independent experts.

“Achieving NATA accreditation for bacterial DNA molecular analysis is a great achievement and I am very proud of everyone’s hard work and persistence in making it happen,” said Dr. Thorsten.

“Other than specialized pathology and genomics laboratories and hospitals, we are the only fisheries laboratory in Australia to be NATA accredited for molecular analysis.

“This gives us an advantage in a highly competitive environment, with significant benefits for public health, improving water quality research and informing operational decisions.”