Lifescience & Pharmaceuticals

Rapid Onsite Toxicity Audit System

Figure 1a. Hardware
Figure 1b. Consumable kit
Figure 1c. Software
(PC is not included)

Rapid Onsite Toxicity Audit System is a rapid portable toxicity test based on naturally occurring bioluminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri). These bacteria emit visible light when in a state of metabolic health. Light emission is directly linked to the production of ATP, so the relative level of bioluminescence reflects the metabolic health of the cell; or the total toxicity of the sample which has been exposed to the bacteria. Unlike any other rapid, field-based toxicity test, Rapid Onsite Toxicity Audit System has been specifically developed and validated for the testing of solid matrices, including soil, sludge, sediments and waste.
The principle of using bioluminescent bacteria for the toxicity testing of soil and water samples has been used for over 30 years. There are over 500 papers published on the technique and the test has been used to detect over 1,300 different known environmental contaminants and toxins in soil, sludge, sediments, composts, waste material, wastewater, potable waters, leachate and groundwater samples.
Rapid Onsite Toxicity Audit System comprises: hardware (portable luminometer and accessories; Figure 1a); kits of consumables to process batches of samples (Figure 1b); and software to drive the assay procedure, and analyse and report the results (Figure 1c).