Proven technology
- The Filta-Max system has been specifically designed to optimize both the capture and recovery of Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
- The filter is made of open-cell foam discs that have been compressed to give a nominal porosity for the capture of Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
- After sampling, the foam is decompressed, enabling the captured organisms to be recovered by a simple washing and concentration procedure.
Respected
- U.S. EPA Method 1623 and UK DWI-approved.
- More Cryptosporidium and Giardia tests are done worldwide using the Filta-Max system than all other filtration technologies combined.
Superior performance
- Consistently recovers high numbers of target organisms.
- High volumes of both finished water (up to and above 1000 liters) and raw water (up to 50 liters) can be filtered to provide greater sensitivity.
- Samples can be concentrated to 25 mL without centrifugation.
- The filter operates at sampling flow rates of up to 4 liters per minute.
Science
Is Filta-Max approved by the U.S. EPA?
How the Filta-Max system works
The Filta-Max module comprises multiple layers of open-cell foam discs that are compressed to create a filter with a nominal pore size to effectively trap Cryptosporidium and Giardia. After sampling, the filter is processed by releasing the compression of the foam discs and washing, enabling all captured material to be recovered. It is a simple yet extremely efficient system.
Filtration
To sample, the filter module is placed in a reusable housing, which is attached to the required sampling source. A head pressure of 0.5 Bar (7.5 psi) is required to create a flow, and the recommended operating pressure is 5 Bar (75 psi). This pressure will create a flow rate of 4 liters per minute, which is particularly beneficial when sampling large volumes of water.
Recovery
After filtration, the module is removed from the housing and placed in the wash station. IDEXX provides both an automatic wash station and a manual version. The foam discs are decompressed by removing a bolt in the module and then washed with an elution buffer using expansion/compression cycles.
The volume of buffer is then reduced to between 25 and 50 mL by concentrating through a membrane, negating the need for high-volume centrifugation.
