Colour change following a single inoculation, which can be performed in under two minutes, gives an indication of coliforms while fluorescence under UV light then indicates E coli
Palintest's Colitag system is now even easier to use, says the company.
Colitag is a simple, reliable method for the detection, identification and confirmation of total coliforms and E coli in 24 hours or less.
The system's dry blended reagent now comes pre-measured and ready for use in blister packs that are simple to pop open and dispense.
The currently accepted methods for monitoring E coli involve labour-intensive procedures, can take two to five days, are susceptible to interference by non-coliform bacteria, and the results are open to interpretation, says the company.
With Colitag a single inoculation can be performed in less than two minutes.
A colour change following incubation provides a conclusive, easy-to-read result without the need for confirmatory tests or sub-cultures.
The reagent and sample are simply mixed in a sterile tube and then incubated at 35C.
The formation of a yellow colour indicates the presence of total coliforms.
E coli is then indicated by fluorescence under UV light.
Coliform or E coli positive water samples are detected at the one colony forming unit/100ml level.
The Colitag system can be used for both Most Probable Number (MPN) and Presence or Absence (P/A) tests.
It is said to be the only system that allows a simultaneous test for both MUG positive and indole positive E coli, negating the risk of false negative results.
Its pH gradient technique means improved resuscitation of stressed coliforms and a lower false negative rate, says Palintest.
