Determining the presence of these microorganisms serves as an effective indicator of potential pathogens within the sample. Instead of individually testing each microorganism, identifying and enumerating the coliform group provides valuable insights. 

Coliforms are bacteria that exist ubiquitously in various environments, including water bodies, soil, and vegetation. Additionally, they can be found in significant quantities in the feces of warm-blooded animals. 

While coliforms themselves are typically harmless and easily cultivatable, their presence and abundance act as a reliable indicator for the potential presence of fecal-origin pathogens in the water sample. 

So, why is analyzing Escherichia coli specifically important? 

In the past, bacterial enumeration in drinking water focused on total and fecal coliforms, without specifically identifying Escherichia coli. However, current regulations require the assessment of E. coli in drinking water. This is because certain pathogenic strains can be found within this bacterial species, and E. coli belongs to the fecal coliform group. Furthermore, the limited survival of E. coli in non-enteric environments suggests recent contamination, enabling prompt action plans. 

Introducing CondaChrome®CCA: A User-Friendly Solution 

Our agar medium, CondaChrome®CCA, offers an accessible and reliable solution for detecting coliforms and Escherichia coli. By utilizing chromogenic substrates, it enables differentiation of the two groups based on colony pigmentation. 

The presence of the β-D-Galactosidase enzyme in the coliform group leads to the degradation of the chromogenic substrate, resulting in the growth of pink colonies. In contrast, Escherichia coli contains the β-D-Glucuronidase enzyme, which is absent in other coliforms. Consequently, colonies of E. coli exhibit dark blue or purple coloration due to the combined enzymatic activities. 

Our CondaChrome®CCA medium complies with ISO 9308-1:2004 standards for enumerating Escherichia coli and coliforms. Therefore, if you already have an accredited method, incorporating our medium into your testing process should be seamless. 

For further information on method implementation or the usage of our product, please feel free to contact us.