Many teams ask: “Do we have SRB?” A better question is: Which microbial processes are active at the metal surface, and are they consistent with the corrosion pattern you see?

Three common functional groups

• SRB (sulfate-reducing bacteria): thrive in anaerobic niches; often linked to sulfide generation and black deposits.
• SOB (sulfur-oxidizing bacteria): can drive acidic micro-environments and aggressive localized attack.
• IRB (iron-reducing bacteria): interact with iron minerals/deposits and can change protectiveness of corrosion layers.

Real systems often contain multiple groups at once—biofilms are communities, not single species.

What to measure (a practical selection)

1. Activity: ATP trending to detect regrowth after cleaning/dosing.
2. Targets: qPCR panels matched to your system (SRB/SOB/IRB + total bacteria).
3. Environment: sulfide/iron, solids, oxygen ingress, nutrient availability.
4. Corrosion response: coupons/ER/LPR + pit mapping and deposits.

Choosing the “right” panel

If your system is mostly aerobic (e.g., certain cooling loops), SOB and general biofilm formers can be more relevant. If it’s oxygen-depleted and under-deposit, SRB/IRB often deserve priority. The panel should reflect where the biofilm lives and what the process conditions allow.

How MICBUSTERS helps

We translate microbiology into corrosion risk: which groups to track, where to sample, and how to trend results to verify mitigation.

Start here: MIC testing & sampling.