Method for microbiological monitoring

A method for monitoring the presence of Legionella bacteria in sessile bacteria in an aquatic system, comprising incorporating in the aquatic system a sampler apparatus comprising a duct which forms a channel for a flow of water and which has at least one port in its walls, a stud having a biofoulable test surface and retaining means comprising a sleeve having a stud-retaining bore, said stud being retained in a first end of said stud-retaining bore, and said sleeve being retained in the port in fixed relationship with respect to the duct so that the test surface is substantially flush with the duct wall and is exposed to water in the channel, said method comprising the steps of:

• retaining said stud in the sampler apparatus for an interval for testing;
• removing the sleeve from the port;
• attaching said stud to a stud removal member to rigidly mount said stud and stud removal member together during removal;
• removing said stud from said sleeve in a direction outwardly from the first end of the stud-retaining bore using said stud removal member;
• and
• collecting and analyzing the bacteria from the test surface of said stud.

A method for monitoring biofilm formation on surfaces in aquatic systems which comprises incorporating in aquatic systems a sampler apparatus comprising a duct which forms a channel for a flow of water and which has at least one port in its walls, a stud having a biofoulable test surface and retaining means comprising a sleeve having a stud-retaining bore, said stud comprising a head having a diameter greater than the diameter of the stud-retaining bore and one side of which forms the test surface and from the opposite side of which extends a stem, said stud being retained in a first end of said stud-retaining bore, and said sleeve being retained in the port in fixed relationship with respect to the duct so that the test surface of the stud is substantially flush with the duct wall and is exposed to water in the channel, said method comprising the steps of:

• retaining said stud in the sampler apparatus for an interval for testing;
• removing the sleeve from the port;
• attaching said stud to a stud removal member to rigidly mount said stud and stud removal member together during removal;
• removing said stud from said first end of said sleeve in a direction outwardly from the first end of the stud-retaining bore using said stud removal member;
• and
• collecting and analyzing the bacteria from the test surface of said stud.

A method for monitoring biofilm formation on surfaces in aquatic system which comprises incorporating in aquatic systems a sampler apparatus comprising a duct which forms a channel for a flow of water and which has at least one port in its wall, a stud having a biofoulable test surface and retaining means comprising a sleeve having a stud retaining bore, said stud comprising a head, one side of which forms the test surface and from the opposite side of which extends a stem, said stud having a sloping shoulder between the head and the stem, the surface area of the head being greater than the cross sectional area of the stem, and said stud being retained in a first end of said stud-retaining ore, and said sleeve being retained in the port in fixed relationship with respect to the duct so that the test surface of the stud is substantially flush with the duct wall and is exposed to water in the channel, said method comprising the steps of:

• retaining the stud in the sampler apparatus for an interval for testing;
• removing the sleeve from the port;
• attaching said stud to a stud removal member to rigidly mount said stud and stud removal member together during removal;
• removing said stud from said first end of said sleeve in a direction outwardly from the first end of the stud-retaining bore using a stud removal member;
• collecting and analyzing the bacteria from the test surface of said stud.