Prof van der Meer says the bacterial-based kits cope well with multiple samples, require fewer materials than standard chemical testing field kits, and are easy to prepare.

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The testing was done with petrochemicals in water (to replicate oil spills), and the rate of chemical uptake is the highest they've seen.

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Generic drugmaker Able Labs (nasdaq: ABRX - news - people ) is also high on Oberweis' list of top buys, along with chemical and pharmaceutical firm Aceto (nasdaq: ACET - news - people ) as well as medical testing company Biosite (nasdaq: BSTE - news - people ).

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