A research study was initiated to investigate the potential of a portable handheld real time PCR device, Biomeme Two3TM (Smith-Root, Vancouver, Washington), to detect eDNA of the bacterial pathogen Flavobacterium columnare , the causative agent of columnaris outbreaks on commercial catfish farms . Columnaris disease, caused by the bacterial pathogen Flavobacterium columnare , causes more losses to the US catfish industry than any other disease. Columnaris disease is transmitted horizontally from fish to fish , is highly contagious, and outbreaks are commonly associated with poor environmental conditions. Mortality patterns vary from a few fish every day to several hundred fish a day depending on the conditions . Water samples were collected from four different regions o f eighteen ponds and from two different locations. Initial trials revealed that high concentrations of algae interfere with the handheld PCR devise resulting in inaccurate results. Modifications to the tests enabled more accurate readings. Readings from the handheld device were verified using qPCR techniques on an Applied Biosystems machine. Development of a correlation between columnaris bacteria counts in the water and columnaris outbreaks in fish would enable farm managers to devise management protocols that would reduce catfish losses due to columnaris disease. The study is currently on-going, and results will be presented.