The MI-OH Water Microbiology Laboratories provide microbiological data of public-health significance from surface waters, ground waters, and sediments for a variety of study objectives.
LINKS: Back to MIOH Microbiology Homepage
Mission Statement
The MI-OH Water Microbiology Laboratories provide microbiological data of public-health significance from surface waters, ground waters, and sediments for a variety of study objectives. The goals of the microbiology laboratories are to:
- provide quality microbiological analytical services to USGS projects for the analysis of environmental samples for bacterial indicators, coliphage, and enteric viruses.
- work with other government agencies, academic institutions, and public utilities to develop and (or) test methods for detection or enumeration of microorganisms of public-health significance in the environment.
- provide assistance to other USGS employees for project planning and training related to microorganisms of public-health significance.
- continually develop projects and program that enhance our understanding of the processes that affect microorganisms in the environment.
Facilities information
Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML)
The OWML is a Biosafety Level II laboratory located in the USGS Columbus, Ohio office and consists of a main laboratory area, a molecular reagent prep room, and a PCR/microscopy room. The main lab is used for sample login and preparation, media and reagent preparation, membrane filtration, incubation, DNA extraction, and culture maintenance. The room contains two biosafety cabinets, four centrifuges, incubators and waterbaths, 3 autoclaves, two –20°C freezers, two –80°C freezers, two refrigerators, and a deionized and Milli-Q water system.
The prep room contains a laminar-flow hood, equipment for maintaining cell-culture lines, two refrigerators, one °C freezer, and a dead-air box with UV lamps for reagent preparation for molecular methods. The PCR/microscopy room contains a microscope with epifluorescence capability, inverted microscope for cell culture, dissecting scopes, qPCR thermal cyclers (Applied Biosystems StepOnePlus and QuantStudio), spectrophotometer, and refrigerator. An adjacent water quality laboratory contains a fume hood, dishwasher, and large autoclave. The OWML is equipped with a notification system and backup generators to ensure that temperatures in all equipment remain consistent.
A laboratory information management system (LIMS) is being used by the OWML to store sample login information, sample results, and associated quality control results. This information is backed up daily and a copy of the information is stored at an off-site location. The LIMS is used to store QA/QC records: maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment, maintenance of microbiological stock cultures and controls, and laboratory method QA/QC results. The LIMS has been customized to produce reports of results that can be easily uploaded into the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS).
Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL)
The MI-BaRL is a Biosafety Level II laboratory located in the USGS Lansing, Michigan office. More coming soon…
The MI-OH Water Microbiology Laboratories provide microbiological data of public-health significance from surface waters, ground waters, and sediments for a variety of study objectives.
LINKS: Back to MIOH Microbiology Homepage
Mission Statement
The MI-OH Water Microbiology Laboratories provide microbiological data of public-health significance from surface waters, ground waters, and sediments for a variety of study objectives. The goals of the microbiology laboratories are to:
- provide quality microbiological analytical services to USGS projects for the analysis of environmental samples for bacterial indicators, coliphage, and enteric viruses.
- work with other government agencies, academic institutions, and public utilities to develop and (or) test methods for detection or enumeration of microorganisms of public-health significance in the environment.
- provide assistance to other USGS employees for project planning and training related to microorganisms of public-health significance.
- continually develop projects and program that enhance our understanding of the processes that affect microorganisms in the environment.
Facilities information
Ohio Water Microbiology Laboratory (OWML)
The OWML is a Biosafety Level II laboratory located in the USGS Columbus, Ohio office and consists of a main laboratory area, a molecular reagent prep room, and a PCR/microscopy room. The main lab is used for sample login and preparation, media and reagent preparation, membrane filtration, incubation, DNA extraction, and culture maintenance. The room contains two biosafety cabinets, four centrifuges, incubators and waterbaths, 3 autoclaves, two –20°C freezers, two –80°C freezers, two refrigerators, and a deionized and Milli-Q water system.
The prep room contains a laminar-flow hood, equipment for maintaining cell-culture lines, two refrigerators, one °C freezer, and a dead-air box with UV lamps for reagent preparation for molecular methods. The PCR/microscopy room contains a microscope with epifluorescence capability, inverted microscope for cell culture, dissecting scopes, qPCR thermal cyclers (Applied Biosystems StepOnePlus and QuantStudio), spectrophotometer, and refrigerator. An adjacent water quality laboratory contains a fume hood, dishwasher, and large autoclave. The OWML is equipped with a notification system and backup generators to ensure that temperatures in all equipment remain consistent.
A laboratory information management system (LIMS) is being used by the OWML to store sample login information, sample results, and associated quality control results. This information is backed up daily and a copy of the information is stored at an off-site location. The LIMS is used to store QA/QC records: maintenance and calibration of laboratory equipment, maintenance of microbiological stock cultures and controls, and laboratory method QA/QC results. The LIMS has been customized to produce reports of results that can be easily uploaded into the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS).
Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL)
The MI-BaRL is a Biosafety Level II laboratory located in the USGS Lansing, Michigan office. More coming soon…