Fast bacterial testing in water systems delivers results in seconds rather than hours or days

Keeping water systems under control, whether in cooling towers, domestic networks, process water or even ultra-pure applications, depends on knowing what is happening microbiologically. The difficulty has always been timing: by the time traditional laboratory results come back, the situation may already have changed.

GL Biocontrol has addressed this issue with DENDRIDIAG®, a portable field kit that measures bacterial levels on-site within seconds rather than hours or days.

At its core, the system relies on ATP detection, a well-established method for indicating microbial activity. But what makes it more practical for real-world use is its adaptation to field conditions. The focus is on measuring intracellular ATP, the part linked directly to living bacteria, while reducing interference from free ATP and other substances that can skew results.

In practice, that means users are getting a clearer signal of actual bacterial presence, rather than background noise. The system is designed to work directly on the full sample, without dilution or lengthy preparation steps, simplifying both the process and the interpretation.A key advantage is speed. Once a sample is taken, analysis takes about 10 seconds, providing an almost immediate indication of microbiological status. The result is quantitative, so it is not just a pass-or-fail reading, but a measurable value that can be tracked over time.

To make the data easier to act on, results can be interpreted through a dedicated app that helps users understand what the numbers mean in operational terms. If something is outside the normal range, action can be taken straight away rather than waiting for confirmation from the lab. The concept is simple: move microbiological monitoring closer to the point of decision, so problems can be identified and managed before they escalate.

Today, GL Biocontrol is working with almost 1,000 municipalities and water utilities across Western Europe, including major international groups such as Veolia and Suez. The technology is increasingly used as a proactive operational tool to support Water Safety Plans and improve field responsiveness during microbiological events.