1 Scope
This International Standard gives general guidelines for the enumeration of coliforms. It is applicable to
— products intended for human consumption and for the feeding of animals, and
— environmental samples in the area of food production and food handling,
by means of the technique of counting colonies after incubation on a solid medium at or at .
NOTE The temperature is subject to agreement between the parties concerned. In the case of milk and milk products, the
temperature of incubation is .
This technique is recommended when the number of colonies sought is expected to be more than 100 per
millilitre or per gram of the test sample.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document
(including any amendments) applies.
ISO 6887 (all parts), Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Preparation of test samples, initial
suspension and decimal dilutions for microbiological examination
ISO 7218:—1), Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — General requirements and guidance for
microbiological examinations
ISO 8261, Milk and milk products — General guidance for the preparation of test samples, initial suspensions
and decimal dilutions for microbiological examination
ISO/TS 11133-1, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Guidelines on preparation and production of
culture media — Part 1: General guidelines on quality assurance for the preparation of culture media in the
laboratory
ISO/TS 11133-2:2003, Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Guidelines on preparation and
production of culture media — Part 2: Practical guidelines on performance testing of culture media
1) To be published.
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3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
3.1
coliforms
bacteria which, at the specified temperature (i.e. or , as agreed) form characteristic colonies in
crystal violet neutral red bile lactose agar, and which in the confirmation test cause fermentation of lactose with
the production of gas under the test conditions specified in this International Standard