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Learn More
I. What is Colitag?
ColitagTM
is a disposable, one-time use test kit for determining the presence of
coliforms and E.coli bacteria in a water sample. The commercialized
product is a packet of powdered media that is dissolved into a water
sample. After 24 hours, if coliforms or E.coli are present, the test
will turn bright yellow or bright blue, respectively, indicating
contamination.
II. Use for Public Drinking Water Safety
ColitagTM is used by public drinking water utilities as well as private
and government laboratories worldwide that are testing for E.coli and
other coliforms in municipal drinking water. The Center for Disease
Control recently published that between 2000-2001 there were 31
outbreaks of drinking water bourn diseases over 19 states that caused 7
deaths and over 1,000 reported cases of illness. Numerous other cases
of lethal outbreaks have been reported worldwide. In the United States,
testing is mandated per the EPA Total Coliform Rule (TCR). As a
result, formal EPA approval for ColitagTM was required. It is estimated
that over 11 million tests are conducted annually in the US alone.
Each state must also endorse ColitagTM For example, approval in
California came in April 2005. ColitagTM is also used for determining
E.coli contamination by certain food, beverage and pharmaceutical
manufacturing companies.
III. The Technology
Colitag was invented
between 1990-1993 at UC Berkeley, Dept. of Nutritional Sciences by
George Chang and Rosalind Tung.
The technology is protected by two US
patents and numerous international patents.
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To address an accuracy
problem inherent in an E.coli test in use during the early
nineties for drinking water testing.
In the early nineties, the original " MUG
" test to detect E.coli was becoming more popular in
the area of drinking water testing.
However, when George & Rosalind
tried to validate this test, they were shocked to find that under some
conditions, the "MUG" test
could fail, leaving up to 20% of harmful
E.coli undetected. It occurred to Dr. Chang that a new test could offer
a safeguard against
possible
"MUG-negative" E.coli and at the same
time provide a more reliable indication of whether sewage contamination
was
actually present in drinking water.
Colitag remains an
exceptional teaching tool at the University of California at Berkeley.
Student projects and research utilizing
Colitag are still ongoing.
Versions for produce, seafood and other applications are in various
stages of development. |
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B. Why Colitag is unique
- the problem it
solves: |
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Colitag simultaneously detects both
"MUG-positive" and
"MUG-negative" E.coli other tests can miss. The integrated use of two
independent methods (which were previously chemically incompatible) in
the same test is the heart of the invention and the vision of Chang
and Tung.
The technology also has patented features to address E.coli
cells that are chlorine-injured from water treatment processes and
thus often do not respond to traditional test methods. Colitag nurtures,
resuscitates and detects these harmful E.coli cells- something no
other medium focuses on. |
No other test offers the capacity to test
for fecal coliforms and 2 independent methods for detecting E. coli as
well as total coliforms.
IV. Commercialization
Today Colitag has been
commercialized by CPI International under exclusive worldwide license by
UC Berkeley. This has included securing EPA and foreign approvals as
well as product development initiatives to deliver an easy-to-use and
cost-effective test to the end user. A version for household use is also
contemplated for future release. Colitag is a delicate, highly
ambientsensitive material. Unique and proprietary raw material
treatments, manufacturing processes and packaging solutions have been
required
Colitag product is approved for
Most Probable Number (MPN) format as specified in Standard
Method 9221 for compliance monitoring of total coliforms and E.
coli in drinking water
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More about Colitag ...
Product
Brochures
Product Summary
Product Sales Presentation
Instructions for use
Studies & Reports
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University of
Wisconsin-Madison...
Comparison
of USEPA approved...
Modified Colitag Test Method...
ATP Study Report of Modified...
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Product Certification's
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US EPA Approved
MSDS
EPA Federal Register Excerpt - November 10 2009 |
Product Images
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