Development of a Methodology for the Rapid Detection of Coliform Bacteria.
Abstract
Work was continued on the development of a rapid method for the counting of coliform bacteria, based on the hydrolysis of a fluorogenic substrate by the enzyme beta-D-galactosidase. The procedure was extended to differentiate between total coliforms and fecal coliforms by elevating the test temperature from 35 C to 44.5 C. The effect of various concentrations of chlorine on the coliform contained enzyme beta-D-galactosidase was also investigated to confirm that the fluorescence technique was comparable to the standard multiple tube fermentation technique. Work was also continued on evaluating two bacterial concentration techniques; continuous flow centrifugation and stirred cell filtration. Preliminary experimentation was conducted on a procedure to eliminate bacterial concentration, yet permit detection and quantitation down to the 2 bacteria per ml level. This procedure involved the microencapsulation of bacteria in liquid membranes prior to passage through a fluorescence flow cytometer. Validation of the rapid coliform-counting procedure for the examination of field-collected water samples was incomplete, due to winter weather conditions and the late arrival of continuous flow centrifugation components.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1979
- Accession Number
- ADA074074
Entities
People
- A. M. Cundell
- Anna M. Pisani
- Eugene Findl
- Janet E. Porter