Challenges in implementing new technology for beach water quality monitoring: lessons from a California demonstration project.

摘要: AbstrAct Beach water quality is currently monitored using culture methods that require 24 hours, but quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) can be performed in two hours. Efforts to date have focused on technology development, with less attention practical challenges of method implementation. Here we present a demonstration project which qPCR was used make health protection decisions at nine beaches. Project goals were assess success transfer, consistency results between culture-based and implementing the same day samples collected. Technology transfer went smoothly, as laboratories routinely produced amplification efficiencies >90%, high degree repeatability replicates, comparable an experienced reference laboratory. slightly overestimated levels Enterococcus compared some rejected due PCR inhibition. However, stakeholder task force did not consider these impediment adoption, because they outweighed by value providing same-day results. Providing warnings noon challenging, achieved limiting number sites electronic means for communicating warnings. The concluded capital training costs smaller adoption than expectation more monitoring, there no benefit rapidity if result extrapolated across week. Cost temporal logistics are likely limit initial use rapid primarily beaches heavily and/or most variable quality.