Rapid, reliable and lab grade E.Coli and Total Coliform test technology chosen by Olympic committees

As we keenly await the excitement of the upcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo, the health and safety protocols for competitors and personnel have never been so important. While COVID-19 dominates the headlines, other health and safety issues need to be addressed and the organisers need to ensure the well being of competitors in the wide variety of sporting activities scheduled, none more so than for athletes and staff in open water events. The Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, International Olympic Committee and a variety of event unions have chosen TECTA-PDS (Pathogen Detector System) as exclusive suppliers for testing and monitoring technology for the presence of E. Coli and Total Coliforms in open water at the upcoming games.  

This is not the first time TECTA-PDS has been chosen for use in major, international sporting events. They were picked as official open water testing providers for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia as well as for all official World Triathlon events since 2018. Thanks to TECTA-PDS’ rapid tests the swimming section of the Paralympic’s triathlon test event was halted when E.Coli levels were measured as being two times over International Triathlon Union limits with water at ‘Level 4’ – the highest level of risk.  Had they waited for lab results this would have been discovered far later and endangered both competitors and event staff.

TECTA PDS provide the only EPA approved automated water testing method that provides lab grade results in rapid time and is easy to use whenever, wherever and by whoever. The test results are unfettered by human error and delay and offer an unsurpassed level of accuracy.

In May 2000, in Walkerton, Ontario, 6 fatalities and over 2,000 people were ill when the town’s drinking water was contaminated with E.Coli and Campylobacter jejuni from heavy rainfall washed in these contaminants from farm manure. This led to stricter water regulations in Canada, and prison terms for 2 public utilities operators. This also inspired Canadian firm TECTA PDS to ensure that this tragedy should never be repeated, so they decided to manufacture a simple to use, accurate and rapid tests for E.Coli and Total Coliforms. 

TECTA-PDS products are now found across the globe, whether in a bustling international city or in remote communities in developing nations.  The company works in collaboration with national, regional and municipal governments, communities, enterprises and organisations protecting the planet from a repeat of the tragedy in Walkerton.