Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I test my dental unit waterlines?
The ADA statement on dental unit waterlines is as follows, “the CDC
recommends that dental unit waterlines used in non surgical procedures
measure less than or equal to 500 colony forming units of heterotrophic
bacteria per 1 ml of water. Which is the standard set for drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)”
How often should I test my office?
We recommend following the Dental Unit manufacture’s IFUs for
maintaining and monitoring the dental unit waterlines. You also may
contact us directly for a no charge consultation.
What are the different types of tests performed on dental unit waterlines?
Simplate HPC and R2A agar HPC. Both testing methods have their place in
DUWL testing. Simplate HPC is recognized by the EPA as the standard in testing potable water for infectious pathogens that in DUWL could affect patients, Doctors and staff. R2A agar HPC is a much broader spectrum test that provides worst case scenario
Should we test for Legionella?
Yes, based on the CDC’s website, “ health departments reported almost
7,500 cases of legionnaires disease in the united states in 2017”, we
recommend testing at least once a year.
What are the steps for collecting the water samples?
There is an “aseptic” technique to collecting the water samples. Please refer
to our “How to Video” on our website.
What happens if our samples fail?
In our post results consultation we will work with you and your staff to correct the water problem. We will be with you ever step of the way until the problem is corrected.
Do you report our results to anyone other than our office?
No, these results are confidential and we will not share them without your
consent.
How long does it take to get the results?
Our goal is to have the results back to you within a week of plating the
samples.

How are the results communicated to us?
We will send the results via email and follow that up with a conference call
with one of our water testing representatives.
Where do we ship the samples?
There will be a prepaid overnight shipping label included in our testing kit.
Who pays for the shipping?
The shipping is included in the cost of the testing kit.