What Microtox does

AquaTOX Research, Inc. is a Syracuse, New York-based environmental analytical laboratory that has operated continuously since 1992 under the direction of founder Dr. Francis G. Doherty. The firm specializes in freshwater aquatic toxicity testing, delivering Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) assays, Microtox bioluminescence-based acute toxicity testing, chemical characterization under the Whole Toxicity Characteristic (WTC) framework, customized ToxProfile panels, and supporting services such as TRE/TIE studies and NPDES permit assistance. It serves a U.S.-wide client base that includes NYS DEC-permitted industrial facilities, municipal wastewater treatment authorities, WTC users, and pretreatment coordinators, and reports having completed thousands of projects for hundreds of clients since inception.

The technical offering combines licensed Modern Water Microtox technology, EPA-approved WET methods using organisms such as Ceriodaphnia dubia and fathead minnows, and accredited chemical analysis. Quality credentials include a New York State Department of Health environmental laboratory accreditation valid 2022–2026 and continuous participation in the DMRQA proficiency-testing program since 1993. The Microtox platform uses bioluminescent Vibrio fischeri bacteria to quantify acute toxicity in water and effluent samples, while WET testing evaluates chronic and acute effects on standard test species under controlled laboratory conditions. These capabilities position the firm within a tightly regulated compliance-driven testing market in which data defensibility and accreditation status are primary purchase criteria.

The business model is project-based, fee-for-service laboratory testing priced per sample, panel, or study, with revenue tied directly to NPDES permitting cycles, RCRA WTC submissions, and ad hoc toxicity investigations for industrial and municipal clients. The company does not disclose revenue, has not raised external funding, and shows no digital-product or AI capability in the available data; commercial expansion has been incremental and credential-led rather than capacity-led, with sustained reliance on regulatory accreditations and the principal scientist's institutional expertise as the principal value anchors.

Name

Microtox

Legal name

AquaTOX Research, Inc.

Website

https://aquatoxresearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AquaTOX Research, Inc. is a Syracuse, NY-based environmental laboratory specializing in freshwater toxicity testing under its Microtox service line, serving NYS-permitted industrial facilities, municipalities, and WTC users through EPA-approved WET, Microtox, and chemical characterization services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Testing Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wastewater & Industrial Effluent Monitoring (NPDES/Permit Compliance) (EUAHACAD), Microbiology & Pathogen Monitoring (Legionella, Coliform, HABs) (EUAHACAI)

Keywords

• Freshwater toxicity testing
• Whole effluent toxicity
• Aquatic toxicity assays
• Environmental compliance testing
• Wastewater toxicity analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Syracuse

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Toxicity Testing Services: Project-based testing services including WET testing, Microtox, and Chemical Testing/WTC. Quotations are tailored to specific project requirements based on number of samples, test types, and frequency of requests. Includes sample bottles, shipping containers, and reference toxicity test results at no additional charge.
2. ToxProfiles: Environmental information reports providing toxicity data for chemicals and products. Low-cost alternative for wastewater treatment plant pretreatment coordinators and others needing environmental information.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AquaTOX Research provides freshwater aquatic toxicity testing services for regulated facilities, municipalities, and industrial clients. Core offerings include WET (Whole Effluent Toxicity) testing using fathead minnows and Ceriodaphnia dubia, Microtox microbial assays using Vibrio fischeri, Water Treatment Chemical (WTC) toxicity testing, and ToxProfiles environmental information reports supporting NPDES/SPDES permit compliance.

Product overview

AquaTOX Research operates as a freshwater toxicity testing laboratory offering four interconnected services: WET Testing (Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing) using fish and invertebrate organisms, Microtox microbial testing using luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri) for rapid toxicity assessment, Chemical Testing/WTC for water treatment chemical evaluation, and ToxProfiles as an information-based service providing compiled environmental toxicity data. These services support regulatory compliance for facilities across New York State under SPDES/NPDES permits.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WET Testing (Whole Effluent Toxicity Testing) Freshwater effluent toxicity testing services using larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and the invertebrate Ceriodaphnia dubia, supporting testing requirements imposed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation for facilities discharging directly to surface water.
• Microtox Microbial testing service using luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri) that exposes bacteria to test samples and monitors reductions in light output in a temperature-controlled photometer to estimate median effective concentration (EC50). Test durations range from 5 to 30 minutes. Technology owned by Modern Water (New Castle, DE).
• Chemical Testing/WTC (Water Treatment Chemicals) Freshwater chemical toxicity testing services with larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) and Ceriodaphnia dubia, supporting NYS DEC requirements for facilities using chemical products to treat wastewater prior to discharge. Both acute and chronic tests available.
• ToxProfiles Low-cost environmental information service providing toxicity profiles for freshwater or marine fish, invertebrates, and bacteria, derived from scientific literature and reference texts to assist wastewater treatment plant pretreatment coordinators and others needing environmental toxicity data.

Quantifiable outcome

• Preliminary test results available via email within 24 hours of test completion
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Modern Water (New Castle, DE)coreTechnology or IntegrationModern Water owns the Microtox toxicity test system technology used by AquaTOX Research. The Microtox system exposes luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischeri) to test samples to measure toxicity. ARI operates under license to provide this testing service.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• ALS Global (ALS Environmental): ALS operates a large global environmental testing network that includes aquatic toxicity testing for NPDES permit compliance. It overlaps with ARI on WET and effluent testing services but offers a far broader analytical portfolio across many geographies.
• Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas provides laboratory testing and certification services, including environmental and water-quality analyses for industrial and municipal clients. It overlaps with ARI's compliance testing value proposition but as part of a much broader TIC portfolio.
• Golder Associates (now part of WSP): Golder (now within WSP) is an environmental consulting and testing firm supporting industrial and municipal clients with aquatic toxicology and effluent compliance. It intersects with ARI's permit-compliance testing but bundles it with broader environmental and engineering services.
• SGS (SGS Environment, Health & Safety): SGS is a global testing, inspection, and certification company whose environmental services include aquatic toxicity testing for permit compliance. It competes with ARI in the broader environmental testing market rather than as a NY-focused specialty toxicology lab.
• Eurofins Environment Testing: Eurofins is the world's largest testing services group, with extensive aquatic toxicology and effluent testing capabilities that overlap with ARI's services. It competes indirectly via broad geographic coverage and bundled compliance offerings rather than as a specialist in NY-specific WET testing.

Others

• Modern Water: Modern Water owns the Microtox technology platform that ARI uses under license. It is the upstream IP and instrument provider for one of ARI's flagship services, making it an enabling/partner relationship rather than a downstream competitor.

Direct peers

• Wildlife International: Wildlife International is an aquatic and wildlife toxicology contract research organization that performs WET-style and chemical toxicity testing for regulatory submissions. It is a close functional peer to ARI, focused on the same core testing methodology with multiple freshwater species.
• Pace Analytical Services: Pace Analytical is one of the largest privately held environmental testing laboratories in the U.S., offering NPDES/SPDES permit-supporting aquatic toxicity testing alongside broader analytical chemistry services. It directly overlaps with ARI's WET, Microtox, and chemical testing capabilities while serving a much larger geographic footprint.
• EAG Laboratories: EAG Laboratories (formerly ABC Laboratories) is a contract scientific services firm offering environmental fate and ecotoxicology testing. Its aquatic toxicity testing services directly mirror ARI's WET and chemical testing offerings to regulated industries.
• Smithers Viscient: Smithers Viscient is a specialty contract laboratory focused on ecotoxicology, aquatic toxicity, and environmental fate testing for regulatory submissions. It is a close functional analogue to ARI's freshwater toxicity testing services, including WET-style testing with multiple freshwater species.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquatox-research-inc-

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Microtox