TOXI-CHROMOTEST

Toxi-ChromoTest is a rapid bacterial-based colorimetric bioassay kit for the determination of toxicity of water (wastewater or other liquid material). It is sensitive to a wide spectrum of toxic substances such as heavy metals, and organic and inorganic pollutants, and may be used to detect the presence of toxicants directly without solvent extraction.

The assay is based on the ability of substances (toxicants) to inhibit the de novo synthesis of an inducible enzyme (ß-galactosidase) in a highly permeable mutant of E. coli.

The sensitivity of the test is enhanced by exposing the bacteria to stressing conditions, after which they are rehydrated in a cocktail containing a specific inducer of ß-galactosidase, and essential factors required for the recovery of the bacteria from their stressed condition. The activity of the induced enzyme is detected by the hydrolysis of a chromogenic substrate. Toxic materials interfere with the recovery process and thus with the synthesis of the enzyme and the color reaction.

Each Toxi-ChromoTest package contains all the material necessary to test four samples, in five two-fold dilutions each, for quantitative analysis.

Contents:

• Reaction mixture (cocktail solution), lyophilized bacteria, rehydration solution, blue chromogen, disposable plastic pipets and test tubes.

Handling:

• Handle the kit and your tested samples as you would any potentially hazardous material.
• Although the bacterial strain is not a known pathogen, it is advisable to sterilize the remains of the kit before disposal (use the included biohazard bag).
• Due to the short incubation time and chemical configuration of the kit, sterile handling is not imperative.
• The kit should be stored under refrigeration (2-8ºC), and should be protected from high temperatures and temperature changes.