Simplexhealth Quick Bacteria Test

Tested the spa, it said it’s ok and subsequently nobody got ill. I suppose you have to take their word for it being functional as you’d have to use one of the tests on something dirty to see if it picked it up. It’s too pricey for that.

Does the job well

Followed instructions to the letter but both tests didn’t work, waste of money !

Was a bit disappointed with this, followed instructions to the letter, first test never showed a line, did second test in exactly the same way and showed a negative, this was to test my hot tub for bacteria, so although the second test worked it’s basically cost double, wouldn’t buy again and wouldn’t recommend

UPDATE: After writing this review, I decided to test a sample of water squeezed from my husband's swimming shorts after a dip in the hotel pool. This test came back positive, whereas my tap water test came back negative. Sounds pretty accurate to me! And disgusting! --- This package includes a set of instructions and two foil pouches. Inside the pouches you will find: 1. one pipette 2. one test strip 3. one plastic vial with pre-applied solution (dry until mixed) 4. a desiccate packet You are not to open the foil pouch until immediately before testing, so you'll want to read the instructions thoroughly first. The total runtime of the test is about 15 minutes. Everything is disposable and should be thrown away afterward. The test claims to detect "non-coliform bacteria, including E. Coli, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, species of Shigella, Enterobacter and other coliform and non-coliform bacteria" with a detection level of 1000 CFU/ml (colony forming unit per millilitre). At £7.50/packet, I certainly hope the accuracy is stellar, and also hope because the test told me my tap water is free from "colony forming units." Hooray! Though, I couldn't really know this unless the water is properly lab cultured, as noted on the leaflet: "This is a screening test and cannot be used to certify water as safe or unsafe." I can say, with certain accuracy, that the test is very easy and the instructions are well-written. Being manufactured in the USA and exported to the UK, the literature is not a broken English translation that could lead to confusion. The leaflet does note that you should not use this to test drinking water "due to the detection level." It does not indicate whether this means the test is over-sensitive (leading to panic), or under-sensitive (leading to sickness).

The package comes with two kits that are sealed in airtight pouches and one set of instructions on a small card. This test differs from some of the others that give a more detailed breakdown of water-based contaminants but is relatively straightforward to use. It's worth noting that the test takes 15 minutes to complete over two stages. The first is to add water to the test vial using the included pipette. Although the instructions state "exactly" one pipette, given the pipette itself is just a cheap plastic version, it isn't clear how to add "exactly" the correct amount of water. I followed the instructions to the letter but was a bit worried that the volume of water didn't reach a plastic mark on the vial - I don't know if it is supposed to or not, but as this was a complete pipette of water I left it at that. Once the water is added you need to wait for 5 minutes. Presumably for the test medium to dissolve in the water. After this, you need to stand the test strip in the water and wait another 10 minutes. The testing result is similar in mechanism to a COVID lateral flow test or pregnancy test. You place the strip into the solution and wait for one or two lines to appear. In my case, one line did appear and this told me that the test was valid and that the water did not contain the coliform or non-coliform bacteria that the test is checking for. On that basis, I am happy to swim in the water. Overall, simple to use and gave me confidence that the water is safe to swim in.