AWWA PATH50797

The purpose of this project was to compare several methods, including cell culture, direct reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), immunomagnetic separation (IMS) RT-PCR, and integrated cell culture (ICC) RT-PCR, for detecting enteroviruses in environmental water samples. More than 350 (303 groundwater and 54 surface water) water samples were collected using positively charged 1MDS pleated cartridge filters. Results demonstrate that it is imperative that the capabilities and limitations (e.g., detection limit, equivalent sample volume analyzed, range of organisms detected) of the analysis method(s) used be considered when interpreting the results of analyses for the presence of enteroviruses in water. Includes 6 references, tables.