The current investigation evaluated the use of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for quantitative detection of Escherichia coli in marine beach water. Densities of E. coli in 263 beach water samples collected from 13 bathing beaches in Hong Kong between November 2008 and December 2009 were determined using both real-time PCR and culture-based methods. Regression analysis showed that these two methods had a significant positive linear relationship with a correlation coefficient (r) of 0.64. Serial dilution of spiked samples indicated that the real-time PCR had a limit of quantification of 25 E. coli colonies in 100 mL water sample. This study showed that the rapid real-time PCR has potential to complement the traditional culture method of assessing fecal pollution in marine beach water.
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Research Article|
October 18 2013
Evaluation of real-time PCR for quantitative detection of Escherichia coli in beach water
Jason Tszhin Lam;
Jason Tszhin Lam
1Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, University Pathology Building, Queen Mary Hospital Compound, Pukfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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Edwin Lui;
Edwin Lui
2Environmental Compliance Division, Hong Kong Government Environmental Protection Department, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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Simon Chau;
Simon Chau
2Environmental Compliance Division, Hong Kong Government Environmental Protection Department, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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Cathie Show Wu Kueh;
Cathie Show Wu Kueh
3Water Policy and Planning Division, Hong Kong Government Environmental Protection Department, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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Ying-kit Yung;
Ying-kit Yung
3Water Policy and Planning Division, Hong Kong Government Environmental Protection Department, Wan Chai, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
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Wing Cheong Yam
1Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, University Pathology Building, Queen Mary Hospital Compound, Pukfulam Road, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
E-mail: [email protected]
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J Water Health (2014) 12 (1): 51–56.
Article history
Received:
March 07 2013
Accepted:
August 28 2013
Citation
Jason Tszhin Lam, Edwin Lui, Simon Chau, Cathie Show Wu Kueh, Ying-kit Yung, Wing Cheong Yam; Evaluation of real-time PCR for quantitative detection of Escherichia coli in beach water. J Water Health 1 March 2014; 12 (1): 51–56. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2013.038
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