Alphabetical Listing | Travel |
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Filters
designed to remove crypto |
Filters labeled only with these words may NOT be designed to remove crypto |
Reverse osmosis (with or without NSF testing) |
Nominal pore size of 1 micron or smaller |
Absolute
pore size of 1 micron or smaller |
One micron filter |
Tested and certified by NSF Standard 53 or NSF Standard 58 for cyst removal |
Effective against Giardia |
Tested and certified by NSF Standard 53 or NSF Standard 58 for cyst reduction |
Effective against parasites |
Carbon filter |
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Water purifier |
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EPA approved — Caution: EPA does not approve or test filters |
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EPA registered — Caution: EPA does not register filters based on their ability to remove Cryptosporidium |
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Activated carbon |
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Removes chlorine |
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Ultraviolet light |
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Pentiodide resins |
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Water softener |
Note: Filters collect germs from water, so someone who is not HIV infected or immune impaired should change the filter cartridges. Anyone changing the cartridges should wear gloves and wash hands afterwards. Filters may not remove Cryptosporidium as well as boiling does because even good brands of filters may sometimes have manufacturing flaws that allow small numbers of Cryptosporidium to get in past the filter. Selection of NSF-Certified filters provides additional assurance against such flaws. Also, poor filter maintenance or failure to replace the filter cartridges as recommended by the manufacturer can cause a filter to fail.
If you drink bottled water, read the label and look for this information:
Water so labeled has been processed by method effective against crypto |
Water so labeled may not have been processed by method effective against crypto |
Reverse osmosis treated |
Filtered |
Distilled |
Micro-filtered |
Filtered through an absolute 1 micron or smaller filter |
Carbon-filtered |
"One micron absolute" |
Particle-filtered |
Multimedia-filtered |
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Ozonated |
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Ozone-treated |
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Ultraviolet light-treated |
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Activated carbon-treated |
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Carbon dioxide-treated |
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Ion exchange-treated |
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Deionized |
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Purified |
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Chlorinated |
Bottled water labels reading "well water," "artesian well water," "spring water," or "mineral water" do not guarantee that the water does not contain crypto. However, water that comes from protected well or protected spring water sources is less likely to contain crypto than bottled water or tap water from less protected sources, such as rivers and lakes.
Home distillers: You can remove crypto and other germs from your water with a home distiller. If you use one, you need to carefully store your water as recommended for storing purified water.
Other drinks: Soft drinks and other beverages may or may not contain crypto. You need to know how they were prepared to know if they might contain crypto.
If you consume prepared beverages, look for drinks from which crypto has been removed:
Crypto killed or removed in preparation |
Crypto may not be killed or removed in preparation |
Canned or bottled soda, seltzer, and fruit drinks |
Fountain drinks |
Steaming hot (175 degrees F or hotter) tea or coffee |
Fruit drinks you mix with tap water from frozen concentrate |
Pasteurized drinks |
Iced tea or coffee |
Juices made from fresh fruit can also be contaminated with crypto. Several people became ill after drinking apple cider made from apples contaminated with crypto. You may wish to avoid unpasteurized juices or fresh juices if you do not know how they were prepared.
Preventing Cryptosporidiosis: A Guide for People with Compromised Immune Systems
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Info CDC Home | CDC Search | CDC Health Topics A-Z This page last reviewed September 17, 2004 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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