Molecular Testing Kits

Biomolecular Testing Products for Mutagenicity (Ames Tests), 

Genotoxicity, and Toxicity

EBPI (Environmental Bio-Detection Products Inc.) is a biotechnology-based company specializing in the manufacture and custom application of simple, rapid, and cost effective methods for detection and monitoring of toxic, mutagenic and genotoxic materials. In addition to being used for evaluation of existing and new chemicals, the kits have found application in assessing environmental pollution risks in drinking water, wastewater, soil and air. We are a research and development-focused laboratory and manufacturing facility continually developing new testing procedures and easy-to-use testing kits for use by research laboratories around the world.

Genotoxicity Testing Kits

5031 SOS-ChromoTest Kit (Contains plastics and reagents)

5031 S9 Activation Enzymes

A microplate genotoxicity bioassay based on the primary response of a genetically engineered bacteria to determine DNA genotoxicity damage.  The SOS-ChromoTestTM Kit can be used to evaluate the presence of genotoxic agents in water, wastewater, sediment, air, chemicals, food, cosmetics, and  for any material that can be put into aqueous solution or micro-suspension such that it can be taken up by the test strain.

5021 UMU-ChromoTest Kit (Contains all plastics and reagents)

5031 S9 Activation Enzymes

A microplate toxicity bioassay, EBPI has developed the UMU-CHROMOTESTTM into a simple procedure based upon the International Organization for Standardization protocol ISO 13829 (Water Quality- Determination of the genotoxicity of water and waste water using the umu-test), which can be performed easily in a non‑specialized laboratory.

7021 umuC Direct Contact Sediment Genotoxicity Test

The UMU-ChromoTest™ (umuC assay) employs Salmonella typhimurium TA 1535 [pSK 1002] bacteria in which the SOS DNA repair response umuC gene has been linked to the β gal gene responsible for producing the β-galactosidase enzyme. The degree of DNA damage repair using the SOS gene pathway is directly linked to the production of β-galactosidase, which is measured by the enzyme’s reaction with a yellow chromogen. Strain TA 1535 [pSK 1002] contains both the rfa mutation, which produces a defective, more permeable cell membrane, and the uvrB mutation, which eliminates the accurate excision DNA repair mechanism, resulting in more repair by error-prone mechanisms. The results from this assay agree very closely with traditional Ames mutagenicity tests, with the added advantage of only using a single bacterial strain.
The assay is based on the Organization of Standardization Protocol ISO 13829.

7031 SOS Direct Contact Sediment Genotoxicity Test

The SOS line of assays are designed for rapid detection of genotoxicity or DNA damage and utilizes the synthesis of the B-galactosidase enzyme whose gene (LacZ) is connected to an SOS promoter. Once a lesion has been detected, the SOS promoter is induced to start the transcription of the SOS genes and the LacZ gene is transcribed as well. This gene produces an enzyme which is assayed using a simple colour change. The degree of colorimetric expression is quantified and given as the SOS-inducing potency (SOSIP). Although the SOS tests also correlate well with the Ames assays, they have been shown to be slightly less sensitive, although they also report less false-positive results.