Detection of Nitrifiers
With our Nitri VIT® test kit, the typical nitrifying bacterial populations can be analyzed easily and directly in wastewater samples. Both groups, the ammonium-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria, are stained differently using specific gene probes and thus detected in parallel in one analysis. Both groups are quantified using our supplied VIT® key.
The analysis is easy to perform - the working time is only a few minutes. The results are available after just 3 hours. All essential consumables for carrying out the analysis are included in the kit.
The data obtained contributes to an efficient early warning system before the chemical effluent values indicate problems.
Your Advantages
VIT® technology enables the targeted detection of individual microorganisms at population, genus or species level. The use of highly specific, rRNA-based gene probes ensures clear identification of the target organism directly in the sample.
The technology enables direct quantification of the target organisms in the sample. Using the VIT® Vision software, the population development can be recorded and reliably tracked over time. Even slight changes in the density of AOB and NOB become visible even before the first abnormalities in the process parameters become apparent. This enables proactive intervention - for example, if the nitrite oxidizers begin to decline, even before nitrite accumulates in the process.
The analysis is carried out without complex sample purification or enrichment: the microorganisms are hybridized directly in activated sludge or other environmental samples and then evaluated microscopically. This preserves the natural matrix - a major advantage over methods based on cell isolation or DNA extraction.
The VIT® gene probes hybridize only with intact, metabolically active cells, as only these have sufficient amounts of ribosomal RNA. This means that only living ammonium-oxidizing and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria are detected, while dead or inactive cells are excluded.
In contrast, PCR only detects DNA, regardless of whether the cell is alive or dead. This means that dead cells can also be detected in PCR analyses, which can lead to a considerable overestimation of the actual biological activity - particularly problematic in processes such as nitrification, where the functional potential is crucial.
Depending on the setup, it only takes a few hours from sample extraction to analysis. The hybridization is standardized, the analysis is performed by fluorescence microscopy and can also be carried out on site in routine environments. The evaluation and subsequent quantification can be carried out easily with the help of the VIT® Vision software.
The test kits are user-friendly and can be integrated into existing laboratory procedures with minimal training. Detection is carried out using fluorescence microscopy and does not require complex equipment or special software solutions. This makes the method particularly robust and user-independent.
Product Specifications
| Detection of | Ammonium- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria |
| Samples that can be analyzed include | Activated sludge (direct) other wastewater samples (direct) Biofilms (direct) |
| Technology | VIT® gene probe technology |
| Evaluation | by means of VIT® adapted Fluorescence microscope |
| Type of analysis | qualitative detection |
| Scope of delivery | Analysis reagents Product manual |
| Package size | 25 analyses |
Handling and Analysis
The sample is prepared using a VIT® adapted fluorescence miscroscope. All bacteria are visible in phase contrast. Nitrite oxidizers glow green, ammonium oxidizers glow red.
You can also have your sample analyzed in-house:
Laboratory analysis nitrifiers
You can also have more detailed analyses carried out:
Nitrifiers detailed analysis Denitrifiers analysis
Why Is Microbiological Monitoring So Important?
For stable nitrification , the bacteria groups responsible for the process must be present in sufficient quantities in the sludge and be optimally associated. Microbiological analysis of the bacteria involved in nitrification is therefore essential for process stability in wastewater treatment plants. As nitrifying bacteria are sensitive to fluctuations, their continuous monitoring is crucial to prevent nitrification breakdowns, reduce operating costs and ensure compliance with legal requirements. By directly detecting the AOBs and NOBs, even the slightest changes in their population can be detected at an early stage before the limit values in the effluent are exceeded.
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