Microbial fuel contamination test
Requiring only a droplet of water in fuel to thrive, microbial growth has the potential to cause severe disruption.
Aircraft and fuel storage tanks can be severely damaged or rendered out of operation, while the issue also carries significant danger to safety – to flight passengers, for example – alongside environmental risks.
An emergency diesel generator in a hospital that fails to start, a blocked fuel system in an aircraft, or a 50,000 gallon tank that has corroded and leaked out into the ground are all potential consequences of unchecked microbial growth.
It’s an issue that costs the aviation industry millions in lost revenue every year.
The current process to identify microbial contamination requires technicians to carry out and interpret complex tests based on 200-year-old technology, on site, or send samples to laboratories and wait several days for results.
“We’re now entering a new landscape where we are harnessing the power of smartphones and enhanced image capture technology to drive advances in safety, security, compliance across key sectors – saving time, money, disruption and potentially, lives.”
Managing Director, Conidia
THE NOVARUM DX™ SOLUTION
Novarum partnered with microbial fuel testing company Conidia BioScience, makers of market-leading FUELSTAT® test kits, to develop a new mobile app which tests for microbial fuel contamination.
Conidia’s FUELSTAT®, ‘The Ten Minute Test’ for microbial contamination in aviation and diesel fuel, utilises the latest Immunoassay technology – Novarum’s app supports this with a full mobile solution.
This new end-to-end solution enables technicians to simply take a sample on-site, mix it into the provided testing bottle and apply four drops into the wells of the test, let the app take an image and give the absolute result.
The test results are then read and shared almost instantly to the manager’s or supervisor’s computer from wherever the test is performed globally, using Novarum’s unique smartphone test reader technology.
The simple three step process, including a centrally logged test interpretation, takes minutes and can be performed using only a smartphone.
Dr Neil Polwart, founder of Novarum DX™and BBI Group™Head of mobile, said:
“Microbial fuel contamination is a common and costly issue for the aviation industry and sectors that rely on diesel fuel to power their operations.
“The current microbial contaminates testing process relies on the ability of technicians with minimal training to carry out and interpret complex tests correctly on the ground at airfield sites and other industry locations. This is often a time-consuming process with the potential for human error.
“Novarum’s smartphone test reader technology combined with Conidia’s comprehensive, innovative immunoassay, creates a formidable solution to this complex challenge – improving process efficiency, accurate data capture and the potential for industry-wide compliance.
“We are proud to have developed this breakthrough product with Conidia, which will transform the way fuel contamination tests are performed. This technology improves accuracy while cutting waiting time.”
KEY FEATURES
Easy to use – The app can be used with minimal end-user training, it provides clear onscreen instructions and guidance for users.
Rapid – Test results are read and shared almost instantly using Novarum’s unique smartphone test reader technology.
Secure – The test is endorsed by leading industry bodies including IATA, JIG, and the Energy Institute.
Compliant – The test is compliant to worldwide standard D8070 and is utilised by major producers and users of fuels such as Shell, BP, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Emirates, and Qantas.
George Tippet, managing director of Conidia BioScience, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing this game-changing device to market. FUELSTAT® has the potential to transform the way the industry monitors microbial contamination in fuel.
“The industry is moving on from a reliance on complicated, hard-to-read tests that depend on the accuracy of the human eye.
“We’re now entering a new landscape where we are harnessing the power of smartphones and enhanced image capture technology to drive advances in safety, security, compliance across key sectors – saving time, money, disruption and potentially, lives.”