Microtox System Deployed to Assess Water Quality and Toxicity in Gulf Coast
NEWARK, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SDIX™ (NASDAQ:SDIX), today announced the company is providing its Microtox® Water Quality System and technical assistance to the Ocean Research & Conservation Association, Inc. (ORCA) to aid their work as part of the Gulf Oil Spill response effort. The new system will augment and increase the throughput of ORCA’s existing toxicity testing capabilities, addressing the large scale testing needs associated with the Gulf Oil Spill.
ORCA, an independent organization dedicated to the study and protection of marine ecosystems and the species they sustain, is partnering with other organizations and institutes to test oil-contaminated sediment samples and establish water quality measurements in the Gulf of Mexico.
ORCA is already using the Microtox system and collaborating with SDIX for rapid toxicity detection in oysters and sediments in and along the Gulf of Mexico and Florida inland waterways. Detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in shell fish (like oysters) is critical to help determine the toxic impact of oil contamination on both marine life and the subsequent food supply. PAHs are the most common carcinogenic components of crude oil.
Edith Widder, Ph.D., ORCA’s CEO, President and Senior Scientist, said, “The SDIX Microtox Solid-Phase Bioassay is already the cornerstone of our Fast Assessment of Sediment Toxicity program. It provides us with a fast, accurate assessment of the broad-spectrum toxicity of sediment samples and is an essential tool to help ORCA optimize its efforts to effectively respond to the devastating oil spill in the Gulf.”
Commenting, Michael Jones, SDIX Market Manager, Water Quality, said, “We are extremely pleased and privileged to be working with Dr. Widder and ORCA on this critical application of our Microtox technology. Our goal is to provide ORCA with the best water, sediment, and marine life toxicity testing technology available as they do their important work supporting efforts to determine the impact of the Gulf Oil Spill.
Microtox is a biosensor-based measurement system for toxicity which provides an effective method to monitor a wide range of potentially toxic contaminations of water supplies and the environment. The Microtox Test System is based on a sophisticated technology using luminescent bacteria known as vibrio fischeri which produce light as a by-product of normal metabolism. Any disturbance of normal metabolism, such as that which is caused by even very low levels of a broad range of toxic compounds, results in a decreased rate of light emission. The higher the level of toxicity, the greater is the inhibition of light production.
SDIX water quality testing instruments are being used by over 70% of the largest water utilities in the USA as well as wastewater treatment facilities, industrial water treatment systems, and environmental and eco-toxicological research organizations worldwide.
About The Ocean Research & Conservation Association (www.teamorca.org)
ORCA is dedicated to the study and protection of marine ecosystems and the species they sustain through the development of innovative technologies and science based conservation action. An IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, ORCA is the nation’s first nonprofit marine conservation organization dedicated to developing “in-the-water” technologies that will provide the data resolution required for science-based conservation to succeed.
About SDIX (www.sdix.com)
SDIX is a biotechnology company, expert at creating advantage by providing a broad range of quality, innovative and effective immuno-solutions to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics, and food safety markets. For nearly 20 years, SDIX has developed antibodies and reagents which advance its customers’ immuno-based work – reducing time, labor, and costs while increasing accuracy and reliability of results.
SDIX offers a full suite of integrated immuno-solution capabilities including assay design, development, and production. In life science markets, SDIX capabilities are being used to help discover the mechanisms of disease, facilitate the development of new drugs, and provide mechanisms for rapid diagnosis.
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