During 2003, Chemunex SA, France, in partnership with Thames Water Utilities in England, coordinated a five site comparative evaluation of a modified protocol using the ChemScan RDI for rapid and early detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in drinking water.

The report, prepared by Thames Water Utilities, was produced in accordance with the Drinking Water Inspectorate's (DWI) Standard Operating Protocol for monitoring Cryptosporidium oocysts in treated drinking water supplies.

The DWI conclusion reads.... "After very careful consideration of the information detailed in the report the Inspectorate has decided that the ChemScan RDI analyser is approved for the regulatory analysis of Cryptosporidium oocysts. "

The ChemScan RDI method for Cryptosporidium oocysts detection and enumeration offers fast, accurate and automated analysis and confirmation of the oocysts count within five minutes, including DIC microscope confirmation.

The laser based method employs computerised detection of labelled oocysts, identifying and recording each oocyst, thereby minimising operator fatigue and subjectivity, and maximising slide analysis numbers per session. Results are automatically recorded and stored for traceability of each sample. The ChemScan RDI method represents a significant step towards early, sensitive results, confirmed within four hours of sampling.