Microbial Insights, Inc.

01/15/2026

Microbes are everywhere and their impact spans far beyond what we can see. These tiny organisms drive nutrient cycling, support soil and plant health, influence environmental cleanup, and play major roles in energy and industrial systems.

Across industries like remediation, oil and gas, mining, and agriculture, microbial activity can either solve problems or create them. Understanding which are present and what they are doing is the key to unlocking solutions.

Microbial Insights provides molecular tools that deliver clear, actionable microbial data so practitioners can harness microbial processes, address challenges, and improve performance across complex environments:

New to Microbes and how they can help you? This article provides insight into their use for a myriad of projects and industries.

01/08/2026

Interpreting microbial data starts with understanding the units. CENSUS qPCR and QuantArray results are reported based on sample type, such as cells per milliliter for water, cells per gram for soils, or cells per bead for Bio Trap samplers. While these units cannot be directly converted, they often fall within one to two orders of magnitude of each other.

To understand whether a result is low, medium, or high, percentile rankings from the Microbial Insights Database provide valuable context by comparing your data to more than 250,000 field samples collected over more than 30 years.

For additional reading on interpreting microbial data:

Learn how Microbial Insights reports microbial results by matrix, adapting reporting units based on sample type to provide accurate data for environmental analysis.

01/01/2026

Aging pipelines, rising corrosion risks, and costly unplanned downtime continue to challenge midstream oil and gas operations. As infrastructure ages, the threat of failure grows, making proactive monitoring and reliable data more important than ever.

Corrosion, including microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC), plays a major role in performance loss and asset degradation. Even a small amount of unplanned downtime can cost operators millions each year, disrupt operations, and increase environmental and safety risks.

Microbial Insights supports midstream operators with precise molecular microbiological methods that identify and quantify MIC related microorganisms, helping teams take action earlier and maintain asset integrity. From QuantArray MIC for routine monitoring to NGS for full community profiling, our MMMs give operators the data they need to manage corrosion with confidence.

For additional reading on strengthening midstream operations:

Learn how microbial diagnostics & maintenance solutions can address aging infrastructure, corrosion & unplanned downtime in the midstream oil & gas sector.

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Microbial Insights want to extend our heartfelt gratitude to our clients, partners, and community. Your trust and collaboration drive our innovation and commitment to advancing microbial solutions. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous New Year filled with success and meaningful opportunities.

12/15/2025

Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) remains one of mining’s most persistent challenges and it’s deeply rooted in microbiology.

When oxygen and water interact with sulfide minerals, certain bacteria thrive under these new conditions, accelerating oxidation and acid generation. Once active, these microbial communities can sustain acid production long after mining ceases.

Microbial Insights’ molecular tools provide a window into these biological processes. By tracking microbial populations linked to acid generation or neutralization, mining teams can better predict when conditions are shifting and take proactive steps to mitigate long-term water impacts.

📌Understanding the microbial drivers of AMD is the first step toward sustainable mine water management.

12/11/2025

A festive night on the Star of Knoxville reminded us how lucky we are to work alongside incredible clients, partners, and of course our team members (those pictured and ones who could not join us). Thank you for helping make this year one of growth, innovation, and meaningful impact.

We’re grateful for each of you.

12/08/2025

Corrosion in pipelines isn’t just a chemical problem; it’s often a microbial one.

Microorganisms form biofilms that can accelerate localized corrosion, clog systems, and compromise integrity long before visible damage occurs. Traditional corrosion monitoring often misses the microbial component, leaving operators without the full picture.

At Microbial Insights, we use molecular biological tools like CENSUS® qPCR and QuantArray®‐MIC to detect and quantify key microbial groups involved in corrosion processes. By understanding who’s there and what they’re doing, operators can make informed decisions to prevent damage, optimize biocide programs, and extend asset life.

📌Detect the invisible. Maintain pipeline performance.

12/04/2025

Microbes don’t work in isolation; they respond to their environment.

Shifts in redox potential, temperature, and pH can completely reshape microbial communities, influencing treatment performance, corrosion rates, or acid generation potential.

Our MBTs help detect these subtle but powerful shifts, giving you a deeper understanding of how site conditions affect microbial function.

📌When you know how microbes adapt, you can adapt your strategy too.

12/02/2025

Space: A World Of Opportunity

💧 Common Problem: Understand microbes is crucial for space advancement from human health related aspects, to biosensors, to resource production and waste regeneration to name a few. Whether we need to understand the current state of a system or troubleshoot when problems occur, a representative sample of the microbiome is mission critical.

💡 Where We Come In: Microbial Insights provides comprehensive solutions to assess microbial activity in extreme environments, guiding clients in developing and implementing best practices.

🛠️ What We Offer: Tools like Bio-Extract™ and FieldQuant™ allow for on-site DNA extraction and analysis, offering real-time microbial data even in the remote locations of space. These tools improve decision-making with sample preservation and immediate information.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from Microbial Insights!

As we look back on another year of advancing microbial science together, we are grateful for the clients, partners, and colleagues who trust us to support their projects with accurate data, unbiased analysis, and actionable insight.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your success. Wishing you and your families a warm and meaningful Thanksgiving filled with gratitude and celebration.

11/24/2025

In environmental remediation, decisions shouldn’t rely on one line of evidence.

A weight of evidence approach combines microbial, chemical, and geochemical data to form a complete understanding of site processes.

At Microbial Insights, we specialize in providing the biological line of evidence, showing whether the right microbes and conditions are present for contaminant degradation.

When integrated, our results help regulators and consultants move from uncertainty to confident, data-supported conclusions.

📌Reliable site closure depends on strong evidence from every angle.

11/19/2025

Why Monitoring Microbes Over Time Matters

A single sample is just a snapshot, but microbial communities are dynamic.

Seasonal changes, system adjustments, or new inputs can shift microbial populations dramatically over time. That’s why trend monitoring is essential for accurate interpretation and long-term management.

Microbial Insights provides consistent, high-quality microbial data that helps track site progression and verify sustainable outcomes.

📌Real insight comes not from one test, but from being proactive and observing.