A pathogenic agnostic water processing method using large-volume dead-end ultrafiltration: A multi-laboratory
Amy Kahler1, Alexis Roundtree2, Sydney Comet3
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Waterborne Disease Prevention Branch, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Journal of Microbiological Methods
|July 21, 2026
Summary
The water processing protocol (WPP) effectively recovers biological agents from water samples, aiding public health response to contamination events. This method shows approximately 50% recovery efficiency for key targets.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Public Health
- Microbiology
Background:
- Treated water systems are vital for public health but susceptible to contamination.
- Detecting waterborne pathogens and biological agents is crucial for effective response and remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Protocol for the Recovery and Concentration of Biological Agents in Water samples (WPP).
- To assess WPP's utility for detecting biological agents in potable water during contamination events or outbreaks.
Main Methods:
- The WPP uses size selection to capture biological agents from parasites to toxins.
- A multi-laboratory validation study involved five state public health laboratories.
- Performance was assessed via percent recovery of B. anthracis and MS2 coliphage in seeded tap water samples.
Main Results:
- The WPP demonstrated approximately 50% recovery efficiency for both B. anthracis and MS2 coliphage across tested ultrafilters.
- A bridging study indicated ELISIO-25H filters performed slightly better for B. anthracis recovery.
- Participants reported a better user experience with ELISIO-25H filters.
Conclusions:
- The WPP is a pathogen-agnostic method suitable for recovering and concentrating biological agents from water.
- The protocol supports public health readiness for responding to and remediating water system contamination events and outbreaks.
