Compartment Bag Test (CBT) Kit

The CBT Kit is portable, compact and self-contained and includes built-in sample decontamination in the form of chlorine tablets. The CBT quantifies the Most Probable Number (MPN) of E. coli bacteria in a 100 ml water sample according to World Health Organization and US Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for safe drinking water.

The steps for using the CBT are: 1. Collect Sample, 2. Mix Medium 3. Pour into Bag 4. Incubate 20-48 hours 4. Score Results Instruction and a video on how to use the CBT is available here

Provided by Aquagenx

Kit shelf life is based on the viability of the E. coli medium for which shelf life is one year from date of manufacture.

Testing in Ghana, by MIT and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Water Quality Bureau, demonstrated that the CBT gave the highest ratings overall, for the E.coli results.

Testing in Peru by University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health et al showed: (1) No significant differences between CBT test in the field, the CBT in the laboratory and the membrane filtration method in the laboratory for E.coli detection in household drinking waters in geographically diverse areas and (2) Previously untrained survey staff are able to obtain statistically comparable results to laboratory technicians and ranked the CBT a 9.3 out of 10 for overall use.

Decontamination of samples is required before disposal. The decontamination procedure is as follows:
• Open bag and add 3 chlorine tablets to top of bag. Agitate bag until chlorine tablets dissolve. Let bag stand for 45 minutes.
• After 45 minutes, pour liquid contents into a sink, toilet or hole in the ground and safely dispose of the empty bag