AN INTERLABORATORY COMPARISON OF RAPID METHODS FOR CONFIRMING THE
IDENTITY OF COLIFORM ORGANISMS
Report No DWI0153
Feb 1989
SUMMARY
I OBJECTIVES
To ascertain if tests for ß-galactosidase and ß-glucuronidase can be used as alternatives to existing standard methods for confirming the identity of coliform organisms or E. coli.
II REASONS
A survey of water industry microbiologists carried out by the Rapid Methods Panel of the Standing Committee of Analysts Working Group 2 has shown that there is a real need for coliform confirmation techniques which are more rapid than those currently recommended.
III CONCLUSIONS
IV RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendations will be made once the results of this study have been discussed by the Rapid Methods Panel of the Standing Committee of Analysts Working Group 2.
V RESUME OF CONTENTS
The results of a trial to compare the validity of using ß-galactosidase and ß-glucuronidase tests for confirming the identity of coliform organisms are given. In the trial several commercially available forms of the ß-galactosidase and ß-glucuronidase tests were compared with the existing recommended coliform confirmation procedures. A new method developed by Strathclyde Regional Council for detecting indole production and ß-galactosidase activity was also included. The trial was organised by Strathclyde Regional Council with guidance from the Rapid Methods Panel of the joint DoE/PHLS Standing Committee of Analysts Working Group 2. The study, which involved eleven water microbiology laboratories, was part-funded by the Department of the Environment.
Copies of this report may be available as an Acrobat pdf download under the 'Find Completed Research' heading on the DWI website.