AWWA WQTC58787

An industrial partnership between SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT and BIOMERIEUX SA was established in order to jointly develop the first analytical process in the world using DNA chip technology, powered by Affymetrix, Inc. technology, which allows the multidetection of bacteria, parasites, and viruses in water samples in less than a day. The GeneChip® brand technology supplied by Affymetrix (California) is an established, proven technology that constitutes a major breakthrough for this application since it allows rapid multidetection of pathogens in one single analysis instead of several monodetection tests. This research program developed a prototype, which represents a complete analytical process from a 30L water sample preparation to the multidetection of 13 microorganisms. Research has come up with the product and reagents for sample preparation, choice of the genomic sequences, and development of the bio-informatics algorithm for multidetection. The speed of this new process (less than a day as opposed to weeks for viruses) and the specific multidetection of viable waterborne pathogens will make it possible to assess and protect against potential risks in a better way. It will also improve decision-making about the best treatments to use and allow faster return to normal operations whether in the municipal, tertiary (public buildings, hospitals, etc.) or industrial sectors (Food and Beverage, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, etc.). This new process will enhance the consumer's safety by allowing much faster and better evaluation of potential risks. It will also bring new knowledge on the occurrence of microorganisms along the water cycle, allowing better decision-making to ensure water sustainability. Includes 30 references, table, figures.