Evaluation of Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst recovery efficiencies from various filtration cartridges by electrochemiluminescence assays

Aims: To evaluate four types of filtration cartridges for their capacities, efficiency for capture and release of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts for detection. Methods and Results: Filtration cartridges included in this evaluation were IDEXX Filta‐MaxTM, Gelman Envirochek HVTM, Corning CrypTestTM, and Filterite Sigma+TM. Various dosages of C. parvum oocysts were spiked into water samples with a wide range of turbidity (10–50 NTU). Electrochemiluminescence assays were employed to enumerate viable or total number of C. parvum oocysts in these eluates. Among the cartridges tested, Filta‐Max consistently showed higher oocyst recovery efficiency, especially with large volume, highly turbid water samples. Conclusions: Filtra‐Max filter is the best performer because of its higher oocyst recovery efficiency. Significance and Impact of the Study: The overall sensitivities of various C. parvum oocyst detection assays in water samples can be improved if highly efficient oocyst recovery filtration cartridges such as Filtra‐Max are incorporated in sample preparation.