Microbial Source Tracking Testing Service
Description
| This testing service covers microbial source tracking testing that includes digital PCR (dPCR) detection and absolute quantification for sources of fecal contamination. For sequencing we offer our 16S sequencing service for microbial community analysis (SKU: 200258).
Bacteria found in different host organisms are identified by targeting known gene differences. This testing service can be used to determine points of fecal contamination within a watershed or surface water to get the actionable insight needed. Pollution source targets include:
Please contact us for more available targets. This offering includes sample collection kit, prepaid overnight return shipping to our laboratory for processing, extraction, dPCR quantification of selected targets, and dPCR reporting. Note: If you would like to send extracted DNA to our laboratory for dPCR analysis or sequencing, please contact us for a quote. |
What testing service do I need for MST?
16S sequencing and PCR work together like a map and a magnifying glass to identify where microbial contamination is coming from:
Discovery vs. Confirmation: 16S sequencing looks at the entire microbial community to find unexpected or “unknown” sources, while PCR/dPCR targets a specific host (like human, bird, or cattle) to prove it is there.
Percentages vs. Hard Numbers: Sequencing provides relative abundance (e.g., 20% of the sample is Bacteroides), whereas PCR provides absolute quantification (e.g., 500 copies per microliter).
The Investigative Workflow: Researchers often use 16S sequencing first to screen for likely sources and then use PCR to confirm and quantify those findings with high sensitivity.
Handling “Dirty” Samples: In complex environmental matrices, dPCR is often more resilient than sequencing, ensuring that inhibitors in the sample don’t hide the presence of critical pathogens or source markers.