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Global Inter-Laboratory Fecal Source Identification Methods Comparison Study
Citation:
Boehm, A., J. Griffith, T. Holden, J. Jay, O. C. SHANKS, AND S. Weisberg. Global Inter-Laboratory Fecal Source Identification Methods Comparison Study. Presented at U.S. EPA National Beach Conference, Miami, FL, March 15 - 17, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Source tracking is key to identifying sources of fecal contamination for remediation as well as risk assessment. Previous intra- and inter-lab studies have investigated the performance of human and cow-associated source tracking markers, as well as library-dependent fecal source identification methods. This study builds upon this previous work by examining the performance of a wide-range of host-associated genetic markers in an inter-laboratory comparison study. Challenge samples were blinded and consisted of either single fecal samples, or a mixture of multiple feces suspended in artificial freshwater. Most assays tested were library-independent real-time quantitative PCR assays including host-associated bacterial and viral assays. We accounted for inhibition as well as differential efficiency of nucleic-acid extraction when carrying out the assays. Additionally, an aging study investigated the differential persistence of single and multiple feces mixtures in natural waters. This study engaged labs from across the globe including those in the United States and the European Union and would not be possible without cooperation between researchers. Preliminary data from the methods study will be presented.