Rapid enumeration of virus-like particles in drinking water samples using SYBR green I-staining

We studied the suitability of SYBR green I-staining for determining total counts of virus-like particles and bacteria in drinking water. Low background fluorescence and lack of unspecific staining made drinking water samples an excellent matrix for SYBR green I-staining. Direct microscopic count method is a rapid and economical tool for assessing the total number of virus-like particles in aquatic samples, compared to culture-dependent or molecular biology methods. We applied this method to show the efficiency of a large-scale drinking water purification process in the removal of virus-like particles and bacteria from lake water.