Evaluation and optimization of a reusable hollow fiber ultrafilter as a first step in concentrating Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts from water

Experiments with a small-scale hollow fiber ultrafiltration system (50.000 MWCO) was used to characterize the filtration process and identify conditions that optimize the recovery of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts from 2L samples of water. Seeded experiments were conducted using deionized water as well as four environmental water sources (tap. ground, Arkansas river. and Rio Grande river: 0-30.9 NTU). Optimal and consistent recovery of spiked oocysts was observed (68-81%), when the membrane was sanitized with a 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution and then blocked with 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS), (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.