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The H2S test versus standard indicator bacteria tests for faecal contamination of water: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The H2S test versus standard indicator bacteria tests for faecal contamination of water: a systematic review and meta-analysis
The H2S test versus standard indicator bacteria tests for faecal contamination of water: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Objectives: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the H2S test for microbiological contamination of domestic water across different settings, as a basis for providing guidance on its use.

Methods: We searched a range of bibliographic and ‘grey’ literature databases to identify studies that had processed domestic water samples using both the H2S test and recognized tests for thermotolerant coliforms or Escherichia coli. We screened 661 study abstracts and identified 51 relevant studies based on 13 853 water samples. For each relevant study, we recorded the level of correspondence between the H2S and recognized tests, microbial testing procedures, details of the samples processed and study quality indicators. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the impact of testing procedures, study quality and sample characteristics on the diagnostic accuracy of the H2S test.

Results: H2S test implementation varied between studies, and the test’s diagnostic accuracy varied significantly and substantially between studies. Little of this variation was explained by testing procedures, study quality or the nature of the samples processed.

Conclusions:?Although in widespread use, our findings suggest that the diagnostic accuracy, particularly specificity, of the H2S test is variable. Optimal conditions for conducting the test remain unclear. As H2S test accuracy is low in a minority of these studies, we recommend that its performance be evaluated relative to standard methods, prior to its operational deployment in a new setting.

water microbiology, water supply, environmental monitoring, meta-analysis, escherichia coli, coliform bacilli
1360-2276
94-105
Wright, Jim A.
94990ecf-f8dd-4649-84f2-b28bf272e464
Yang, Hong
2ea2c94c-8d28-4555-98f9-59b615b0cee7
Walker, Kate
93c5a20a-82a2-45b3-a295-479de3f64156
Pedley, Steve
4ad4d2f3-3e70-4f82-8b3b-c2d2f2b5df5a
Elliott, John
589c5ac2-c67e-4eb1-aa07-c07583997af5
Gundry, Stephen W.
adb96e13-450c-4b8d-9f36-b6581a0ac220
Wright, Jim A.
94990ecf-f8dd-4649-84f2-b28bf272e464
Yang, Hong
2ea2c94c-8d28-4555-98f9-59b615b0cee7
Walker, Kate
93c5a20a-82a2-45b3-a295-479de3f64156
Pedley, Steve
4ad4d2f3-3e70-4f82-8b3b-c2d2f2b5df5a
Elliott, John
589c5ac2-c67e-4eb1-aa07-c07583997af5
Gundry, Stephen W.
adb96e13-450c-4b8d-9f36-b6581a0ac220

Wright, Jim A., Yang, Hong, Walker, Kate, Pedley, Steve, Elliott, John and Gundry, Stephen W. (2011) The H2S test versus standard indicator bacteria tests for faecal contamination of water: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Tropical Medicine & International Health, 17 (1), 94-105. (doi:10.1111/j.1365-3156.2011.02887.x).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of the H2S test for microbiological contamination of domestic water across different settings, as a basis for providing guidance on its use.

Methods: We searched a range of bibliographic and ‘grey’ literature databases to identify studies that had processed domestic water samples using both the H2S test and recognized tests for thermotolerant coliforms or Escherichia coli. We screened 661 study abstracts and identified 51 relevant studies based on 13 853 water samples. For each relevant study, we recorded the level of correspondence between the H2S and recognized tests, microbial testing procedures, details of the samples processed and study quality indicators. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the impact of testing procedures, study quality and sample characteristics on the diagnostic accuracy of the H2S test.

Results: H2S test implementation varied between studies, and the test’s diagnostic accuracy varied significantly and substantially between studies. Little of this variation was explained by testing procedures, study quality or the nature of the samples processed.

Conclusions:?Although in widespread use, our findings suggest that the diagnostic accuracy, particularly specificity, of the H2S test is variable. Optimal conditions for conducting the test remain unclear. As H2S test accuracy is low in a minority of these studies, we recommend that its performance be evaluated relative to standard methods, prior to its operational deployment in a new setting.

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More information

Published date: 22 September 2011
Keywords: water microbiology, water supply, environmental monitoring, meta-analysis, escherichia coli, coliform bacilli
Organisations: PHEW – P (Population Health), Population, Health & Wellbeing (PHeW)

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 196401
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/196401
ISSN: 1360-2276
PURE UUID: e2d86973-c141-41ab-8eb5-8735e20744ff
ORCID for Jim A. Wright: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8842-2181

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Date deposited: 23 Sep 2011 14:38
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:20

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Contributors

Author: Jim A. Wright ORCID iD
Author: Hong Yang
Author: Kate Walker
Author: Steve Pedley
Author: John Elliott
Author: Stephen W. Gundry

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