Laboratory Services
Bacterial Analyses
PathCon can analyze for bacterial contaminants in buildings. Bacteria are commonly found in soil and water or from plants, animals, and humans and are routinely detected in indoor and outdoor air. Bacterial amplification indoors may lead to building-related health complaints. Environmental bacteria are those bacteria that are likely to originate and grow in the inanimate environment, including water-damaged building materials. Some examples are Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Flavobacterium. High numbers of these environmental bacteria in the indoor air indicate amplification. Building occupants may be another source of bacteria in the indoor air. Human commensal bacteria are those bacteria commonly found on the skin, hair, nose, mouth, and mucous membranes of humans and animals. The finding of high concentrations of human commensal bacteria in the indoor air may indicate high occupant density or poor ventilation; it is unlikely that a high concentration of these bacteria in the indoor air is due to amplification in the building materials. For further information, refer to PathCon Technical Bulletin 2.5.
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus anthracis is the causative agent of anthrax which is a deadly animal disease with humans serving only as incidental targets. During the fall of 2001, this organism was placed in letters and mailed as part of a biological assault. During the anthrax crises, PathCon analyzed over 5,000 samples and detected B. anthracis in over 65 samples. All positive samples could be explained by and traced back to one of the anthrax letters. Given the previous success of environmental monitoring, facilities that are potential targets (and those with higher potential for cross contamination) should consider proactive environmental monitoring especially during times of elevated national security warnings. Also, there are times when “peace of mind sampling” can help immensely in calming fears in the workplace which can help prevent loss of both efficiency and productivity. PathCon offers materials and analysis for swab samples for B. anthracis.
Coliform Bacteria
Coliform bacteria are commonly found in the intestine of humans and animals and are often referred to as enteric organisms. Escherichia coli is the primary species of concern and its detection in the environment indicates fecal or sewage contamination Sampling for these bacteria may be suggested in buildings with current or previous sewage water intrusion. PathCon typically uses MacConkey agar air samples and 3M Petrifilm for water, bulk, or swab samples.