Analytical Services, Inc

Analytical Services, Inc. (ASI) is a full service environmental microbiology laboratory that provides testing, consulting, research and expert witness services to clients throughout the United States and internationally.  

ASI projects range from routine compliance monitoring to investigative projects to research to special projects that incorporate multiple disciplines.  We routinely analyze water, wastewater / reclaimed water / stormwater, biosolids, sediments, and other matrices for pathogens and indicator microorganisms.  ASI has received samples from 48 states and 12 foreign countries. 

ASI is pleased to announce that our laboratory has received Primary NELAC accreditation from the New Hampshire Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) for EPA Methods 1623 and 1623.1 in drinking water and non-potable water.  This certification covers the USEPA requirement for laboratories performing Cryptosporidium analyses for the second round of the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2 Round 2).  ASI also holds accreditation from numerous entities; including TNI/NELAP, US EPA, US CDC and various states, for various parameters and matrices.

In 2014, ASI became part of the IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group, Inc., with corporate headquarters located in Lake Forest Park, WA.  While ASI's laboratory is still located in Williston, VT, joining IEH has increased our technical expertise, analytical capabilities, laboratory capacity and resources, especially with respect to molecular microbiology.  

Services

Each client's specific project goals and data quality objectives are addressed by ASI to determine the laboratory services, including traditional and molecular techniques, and consulting / research services required. 

Analytical Services, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities in recruitment, hiring, assignment, advancement, compensation, and retention to all candidates on the basis of their qualifications, abilities, and performance, without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, place of birth, veteran status, or age and to qualified individuals with disabilities.

Water

Routine Monitoring – ASI is USEPA Approved for Cryptosporidium analysis for LT2 Round 2, under the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2) Laboratory Quality Program. ASI has helped more thnan 400 public water suppliers throughout the United States meet their LT2 compliance requirements. We have analyzed more than 20,000 samples using EPA Method 1623 for the detection of Cryptosporidium and Giardia. In addition, ASI is NELAP accredited through the New Hampshire ELAP, Florida DOH and Texas TCEQ for selected parameters and matrices. We serve clients nationwide regarding compliance and non-compliance samples of water.
LT2 Variance Assessment – After a nationwide search, ASI was selected by Portland Water Bureau (Portland, OR) to serve as their microbiological laboratory for Method 1623 analyses in pursuit of, application for, and, ultimately, compliance with a treatment variance under the Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule. This project included analysis of well over 1,000 samples, including high volume samples (200L), high frequency samples (20+ per week), routine and event based samples, reservoir and tributary water and wildlife scat samples. ASI also developed and validated a method modification to address a seasonal water matrix that interfered with protozoa recovery. The modified method, which overcame the seasonal matrix effect, was accepted by the USEPA and the State of Oregon, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) and ultimately, PWB’s request for a LT2 treatment variance was granted by the OHA.
Distribution System Investigation – In response to total coliform positive results, ASI conducted a major distribution system investigation for a major public water supplier in southeasternU.S. to confirm coliform positive samples, assess sources, and identify potential operational and treatment based solutions. ASI routinely receives, confirms, and speciates total coliform positive samples for PWS clients
Watershed Pathogen Survey – ASI designed and conducted and watershed pathogen survey in the southeastern U.S. that involved monthly sampling at 23 stations for 24 months, plus event-based sampling. Samples were analyzed for Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter, Clostridium, and Salmonella) and indicator species (total coliforms, E. coli and male specific and somatic coliphage).
Legionella Monitoring – Routine and investigatory Legionella analyses for clients throughout the United States, including industrial corporate clients, large public water suppliers, hospital and nursing care facilities, hotel industry clients, etc. Legionella enumeration, with confirmation of presumptive positive Legionella isolates by latex agglutination (serotyping). ASI also provides genetic sequencing of Legionella, if needed for special projects. In addition, ASI is actively helping clients understand and prepare for the Hazard Assessment and Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach endorsed in the pending ASHRAE Standard 188P (Prevention of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems).
Public Interactive Water Features (PIWF) / Recreational Water – ASI provides consulting, monitoring, management plan development and expert witness services for municipalities and industry with regard to fecal contamination and the risk of Cryptosporidiosis in pools, fountains and other PIWFs.
Funded Research – Water – The Water Research Foundation (formerly the American Water Works Research Foundation) awarded ASI the contract for #4024: Significance of Current Methods and Monitoring Strategies for E. coli and Total Coliform Measurements. This study, published in 2010, assessed the various methods approved for total coliform and E. coli detection, involved 26 public water suppliers in theU.S. andU.K., with direct and in-kind funding exceeding $800,000. Dr. Fricker (ASI Technical Director) and Mr.Paul Warden (ASI Vice President) were the Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-PI, respectively.

Wastewater

Reclaimed Water – ASI provides monitoring services for reclaimed water, including Cryptosporidium and Giardia testing, for clients in Florida and other states. In addition, ASI provides laboratory support for Reclaimed Water Pilot Testing - (62-610.564, F.A.C.) for enteroviruses, Cryptosporidium, Giardia and helminthes.
Agricultural Runoff – ASI provided laboratory support for a USDA sponsored study to assess Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Salmonella, E. coli, E. coli O157, etc. in manure, sediment and agricultural runoff.
Urban River Pathogens – ASI received and analyzed sediment samples as part of the Passaic River Restoration Project (NJ). These samples incorporated a complex matrix that presented analytical challenges as well as microbiological and chemical safety issues. In addition, ASI is currently providing microbiological laboratory support (protozoa, viruses and bacteria) for a study involving a USEPA designated Superfund site inNew York.

Biosolids

Testing – In the past two years, we have performed well over 1,000 analyses for biosolid pathogens, on samples from clients in almost half of the 50 U.S. states. Typical biosolids analyses include the following: enteric viruses, viable helminth ova, fecal coliform, and, Salmonella. Other non-regulatory indicator analyses such as MS2 coliphage are also available.
Research - The following research has been conducted in Dr. Margolin’s laboratory at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). ASI has been affiliated with Dr. Margolin for more than 20 years, for enteric virus and biosolids analyses, challenge studies and research. Three recent research projects are described below.
Class B Alkaline Stabilization to Achieve Pathogen Inactivation - This study used a bench scale model to assess the effect of lime stabilization on the following organisms; fecal coliforms, Salmonella, adenovirus type 5, rotavirus Wa, Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides, and the male-specific bacteriophage MS-2 (R/O water matrix at room temperature).
Inactivation of Hepatitis A HM-175/18f, Reovirus Type 1 and Male Specific Bacteriophage During Alkaline Stabilization of Biosolids - A bench scale model was used to evaluate the inactivation of male specific bacteriophage-2, hepatitis A HM-175/18f and reovirus type 1 Lang during alkaline stabilization of raw biosolids at both 28ËšC and 4ËšC.
Development of an integrated cell culture - real time RT-PCR assay for detection of reovirus in biosolids - This research developed and assessed an improved test method for detection of reoviruses in biosolids. Integrated Cell Culture-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ICC-PCR) assay has allowed detection of viruses that are under-detected and undetected by the standard plaque assay required by 40 CFR Part 503.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Pilot Plant Challenge Study / Validation – ASI recently completed a 28 day, 24/7 project where we provided consulting and laboratory support for a pilot pant project in the southeastern U.S. ASI supplied MS2 coliphage stock for injection into the plant to document viral reduction due to treatment. Samples were collected at a variety of samples points (raw water, after mixed media filters, R/O permeate, etc., and microbiological analyses included algae, coliphage, Cryptosporidium / Giardia, enteric viruses and Legionella.
Method Comparison Studies – For two different products, ASI was selected by a major multinational corporation to perform method comparison studies under the US EPA’s Alternative Test Protocol (ATP) to document method performance relative to an approved reference method. These studies involved analysis of samples from numerous sites, injured and uninjured organisms, multiple confirmations steps, etc., resulting in thousands of data points. ASI has also provided the essential method development research for other products, which improved performance to allow the clients to pursue method approval.
Seasonal Effects – ASI has investigated seasonal matrix effects on Method 1623 performance and co-authored the resulting manuscript (Shaw, et. al., Modification to EPA Method 1623 to address seasonal matrix effect encountered in some U.S. source waters. J. Microbiological Methods, 75(2008)445-448.) In addition, ASI has developed other Method 1623 method modifications to address matrix effects.
Challenge Studies – ASI routinely designs and executes microbiological challenge studies for product validation for a wide variety of types of products and client objectives. Products tested have included water treatment devices (filters with and without disinfection, ultra-violet lights, etc.), chemical disinfectants, etc., antimicrobial treatments for surfaces, food processing, etc. under routine and challenging test conditions. ASI has tested devices using a range of protocols, including NSF Protocol P248 Emergency Military Operations - Microbiological Water Purifiers (Dec. 2008). ASI has also written test protocols and provided laboratory support (sample preparation and analysis) for a number of studies designed to validate the performance of alternative medical waste treatment (MWT) technologies.