USE OF THE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION FOR THE ANALYSIS AND ENUMERATION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OOCYSTS IN DRINKING WATER

The scope of the research project will include:
1. Literature review summary of current published research into the use of PCR methods that would be suitable for the analysis and enumeration of Cryptosporidium in drinking water.
2. A review of the use of PCR within the water industry at the moment, and how the industry may adopt the technology into their routine sample analysis.
3. Develop a PCR based method based on findings of the literature review and practical investigations
4. Duplicate analysis of spiked Cryptosporidium samples, using the current blue book method for Cryptosporidium analysis, alongside the method of PCR deemed suitable.
5. Collation and review of the results of the spiked sample analysis, to determine the benefits of the use of PCR against the current blue book method.
6. Any recommendations for the industry for the use of PCR in routine analysis of Cryptosporidium, and recommendations for any future areas of research that may be required from the results of this study.