...and it's greener!

If you want to have your drinking water analyzed for the presence of bacteria, along with other potential contaminants,all mail-order labs require you to do the following:

Why are all of these steps necessary?

The recommended holding time for testing water for the presence of bacteria is very short, generally no more than 48 hours. That means you need to ship the water sample to the lab the same day you draw it. Also, the temperature of the water sample must be kept cool during transit.

The other potential contaminants have a much longer holding time and aren't affected by temperature.

We used to do it this way until we stepped back and asked ourselves if we really need to put our customers through these steps...the answer is, No!

Why? Because we discovered very reliable and simple wayfor our customers to analyze their water for the presence of bacteria themselves...

..without having to adhere to acceptable temperature and holding times normally involved in shipping samples back to the lab by mail.

"This test zeros in on the pathogens that indicate the presence of 'bad' bacteria. The vast majority of bacteria are harmless, or beneficial to humans. The is the only test we have found that 'looks for' the 'bad' bacteria and therefore the ones that you need to treat for to remove."

Here is the list of bacteria this test screen for:

Here are the simple steps to testing your drinking water for bacteria using ournew method:

1. Fill a small sterilized vial we provide in your test kit with water from your tap. Pour the contents of the provided foil envelope into the vial, recap and shake.
   
2. Place the vial in a location where the temperature will remain between 70 and 90 degrees, Fahrenheit, for 24-48 hours.
   
3. Check the sample during the first 24 hours to see if the water has changed color. If it has changed from the original clear yellow color to grey or black, then bacteria is most likely present and the water should be treated.

1. If there was no color change within the first 24 hours, check the sample for another 24 hours. If it has changed from the original yellow color to grey or black, then bacteria is most likely present and the water should be treated.
   
2. If there has been no color change after 48 hours, the sample does not contain bacteria at or above the limit (or, threshold) deemed harmful by the EPA and local health departments.

NOTE: Bacteria are normally present at some level in well water, but what's important is the amount of the bacteria in the water. This test has been developed to change color within the first 48 hours only if bacteria is at or above the limits.

Please remember that testing for bacteria in drinking water is only considered to be an indicator of a potential health threat that may require treatment. However, the presence of bacteria in drinking water does not necessarily indicate that it will cause illness.

That's it! No gel packs to freeze and pack. No need to rush your water samples back to the lab the same day you collect the sample. No use of landfill unfriendly Styrofoam shippers and gel packs. No need to pay for overnight shipping.

The other vials provided with the kit can now be shipped back to the lab using standard non-expedited shipping methods, such as first-class postage through the US Post Office.

Try Our New Method. It is easier, much more cost effective and your results are obtained far quicker than conventional methods...All this without sacrificing quality!!

Note: If it is found that there is a presence of bacteria, you can correct the problem the same way you would if we had tested the water at the lab, by chlorinating the system.