A molecular method for the detection of sequences specific to Cryptosporidium parvum was developed. The process interfaced with current collection technology by using a solid phase extraction system specific for C. parvum. This system replaced immunomagnetic separation and the need for freeze-thaw, phenol-chloroform extraction protocols. The extraction system was able to interface with pellets resulting from 100 to 1000L of finished and 10 to 100L of raw water samples. The amplification was isothermal, eliminating the need for trained molecular biologists and expensive thermal cycling equipment. The detection was qualitative and visual. The method detection limit (MDL) with environmental samples was at a putative 10 oocysts/L in raw and 0.1 oocysts/L in finished water samples. Includes 5 references, tables.