MOLECULAR LABORATORY CAPABILITIES
Weston tackles key water quality issues including MST; development and implementation of bacteria total maximum daily loads (TMDLs); natural source exclusion and site-specific criteria studies; and detection of a suite of waterborne pathogens in support of quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA).
WESTON’S MICROBIAL SOURCE TRACKING CAPABILITIES
Study Design and Implementation
Adaptive management and phased implementation ensure a cost-effective, science-based approach.

Field Efforts 24/7
Capabilities for storm water monitoring and sewer spill response, special studies for TMDL solutions, site-specific criteria, and microbial water quality assessment.

In-House Laboratory Capabilities
Weston’s Molecular biology laboratory (overseen by Dr. Alexander Schriewer) provides quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Digital DropletTM polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) services to identify host fecal sources (e.g., human, dog, bird, cow, horse), indicator organisms (e.g., e. coli, enterococci, general bacteroidales), and pathogens (e.g., Human Norovirus, Enterovirus, Adenovirus, SARS-CoV-2). Protocols are aligned with EPA and State of California procedures and are customizable to client specifications.

The laboratory is fully equipped to quantify molecular targets in a variety of matrices such as soil and sediment, fish and shellfish, water and air filters, and all water types (e.g., groundwater, salt water, storm water, drinking water, wastewater).
In addition, the laboratory has extensive experience in conducting assay and method validation studies and performing custom laboratory studies, for example, decay or recovery studies.
KEY FEATURES
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Commercial EPA license for various assays
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Rigorous QA/QC analog to chemical analytics
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MIQE compatible results
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Matrix inhibition assessment and process
controls in every sample -
ddPCR
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Reaction (ddPCR) for absolute gene
quantification
MOLECULAR SERVICES
(qPCR and ddPCR)
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Over 30 targets
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MST (e.g., human, dog, bird, cow, horse)
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Pathogen quantification
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Indicator organisms (e.g., e. coli,
enterococci, general bacteroidales)
APPLICATIONS
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Microbial Water Quality Assessment
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Sewer Spill Response Analysis
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Quantitative Microbial Risk
Assessment (QMRA) -
SARS-CoV-2 tracking in wastewater
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Storm Water Monitoring
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Site-Specific Criteria Assessment
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TMDL Solutions