TVC/PS/SRB Analysis

Weight: 1kg maximum per filled sample bottle

Dimensions: 25.5 x 15.5 x 14.5 cm

Total viable count (TVC) analysis will estimate the total number of microorganisms in any given water sample. It offers an indication of water quality and will highlight any contamination. The micro-organisms are bacteria, yeast or mould species. 

A TVC analysis is designed to estimate the number of viable or live microorganisms. This is important because live cells could grow into colonies which will be a problem. TBC is the total bacteria count which determines the count of all cells both dead and alive.

While there are no specific regulations on bacterial levels, 10,000 cfu (colony forming units) per ml of water is a high Total Viable Count (TVC). To ensure the safety of your water system, it’s therefore necessary to test the TVC content of your water on a regular basis. Any changes in the baseline results from previous tests will indicate there is a problem. A small rise of around 10 cfu/ml is not considered significant, but a rise of thousands of cfu indicates you have a problem.

If your Total Viable Count (TVC) analysis shows a small rise on the last test, it would be a good idea to first retest the outlet before undertaking further investigation with specialist tests to try and identify the individual contaminant/s. However, if your TVC test shows a significant rise from the previous one, it is a sign you need to undertake further tests. A high TVC count is a sign that your water system is not being cleaned and maintained properly, allowing contaminants to enter the system, so action must be taken. TVC testing will give you an overall idea of the contaminants, corrosion, and scale in your water system; if your count is particularly high, you will need to conduct tests that are looking for specific organisms, for example legionella or faecal streptococci, until you discover the cause – which may of course be more than one organism. 

If you have high TVC levels in your water system, it is a sign that steps need to be taken to better treat and maintain your water. If you are concerned about your water quality, call us on 0333 090 5554.

Effective management of your water system is essential when it comes to minimising TVC levels in your water supply. Constant flushing of the system is essential to prevent the build up of bacteria and the contaminants that they thrive on, and water temperature is crucial – especially when it comes to the control of legionella bacteria. 

When it comes to closed water systems, initial cleanliness is essential. The system must be flushed to get rid of the inevitable debris from the installation, then chemically cleaned. The water that fills the system needs to be treated with a suitable biocide before it is introduced into the system, and a corrosion inhibitor introduced. Regular testing is the best way to ensure that your maintenance and management continue to be effective.

Ideally, you will do a TVC test on a regular basis as the results will show any variations in the number of microorganisms in your water system. However, if you are concerned about your water quality because of an unusual odour, taste or discolouration, it would be a good idea to do an additional test.

When it comes to testing your drinking water supply, laboratories will test your Total Viable Count water sample twice. One sample will be incubated on growth media at 22˚C and the other at 37˚C because the different microorganisms present will show up at the different temperatures. At 22˚C, the results will show the number of live bacteria per ml at ambient temperature, and at 37˚C they will show the live bacteria per ml of water at body temperature. The bacteria that grow at body temperature are more likely to be harmful to humans whereas the bacteria that thrive at ambient temperature are less likely to be harmful.

As drinking water needs to be clean and safe, all industry and business sectors need to test their water. TVC testing gives a good indication of the overall water quality and further investigations will only be needed if the TVC shows poor quality water that could be contaminated.

A Total Viable Count (TVC) analysis is a test for the presence of contaminants in water. It is a non selective test which means it doesn’t test for any specific microorganisms but it does give you an indication of the general quality. Low levels of TVC will reassure you of the cleanliness of your water in a single test, meaning you do not have to do a lot of individual tests to come to the same conclusion, saving time and money. However, if the TVC result is high – for example 10,000 cfu (colony forming units) per ml of water – it is an indication that there are heightened microbiological contamination levels. As the TVC is unable to specify what is causing the contamination, you will need to do further investigation in the form of testing for specific contaminants.