Research and analysis
Evaluating microbial DNA markers in archived bathing water samples
Evaluates the use of an emerging methodology to determine levels of microbial DNA markers in bathing water samples.
Applies to England
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This project evaluated the use of an emerging methodology to determine levels of microbial DNA markers in bathing water samples. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can measure highly specific DNA sequences associated with particular organisms.
In this research we demonstrated how high throughput qPCR (HT-qPCR) could be used to detect multiple markers in archived bathing water samples from 2023. We also identified how the presence of these markers changes as environmental conditions change. This study does not establish health risk thresholds, which would require complementary epidemiological studies.
Updates to this page
Published 29 September 2026