Hydrosphere cultures all of the organisms used in bioassay testing in-house. What this means to our clients is that we use only the highest quality test organisms. The organisms we use in testing do not have to undergo the stress of shipping. Hydrosphere has conducted studies that show in-house organisms are 25-36% heartier than organisms that have undergone the stress of packaging and shipping.
Another added benefit is that we can set up a bioassay test at any time.
Freshwater test organisms that we routinely culture include:
- Invertebrates – Ceriodaphnia dubia, Daphnia pulex, Daphnia magna
- Vertebrates – Pimephales promelas, Cyprinella leedsi
- Amphipod – Hyalella azteca
- Midge Fly Larvae – Chironomus dilutus (formerly C. tentans)
- Freshwater alga – Pseudokirchneriella subcapita (formerly Selenastrum capricornutum), is maintained as a food source for the freshwater invetebrates and as test organisms in algal growth and inhibition tests.
Saltwater test organisms that we routinely culture include:
- Invertebrates – Americamysis bahia (formerly Mysidopsis bahia)
- Vertebrates – Menidia beryllina
- Amphipod – Leptocheirus plumulosus
- Saltwater Algae – Dunaliella tertiolecta is maintained and used as a test organisms in algal growth and inhibition tests.
- Purple Sea Urchin – Arbacia punctulata are kept in long term holding
Occasionally our testing needs exceed what we can produce in-house. In these cases, commercial suppliers are used. US EPA guidelines for holding and acclimating organisms are followed when using organisms from a commercial supplier.