Quantitative PCR in CE/100 mL

The qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) method measures enterococci in water by detecting their DNA. A water sample is collected, and DNA is extracted. The qPCR machine amplifies specific DNA sequences unique to enterococci and measures how much is present. The result is reported in colony equivalents per 100 millilitres (CE/100 mL), which estimates how many bacterial cells were in the sample based on detected genetic material. This method is faster than traditional culture tests, providing results in just a few hours, and is especially useful for quickly checking water safety at beaches or other sites.