title: Comparison of the presence-absence and membrane filter techniques for coliform detection in small, nonchlorinated water distribution systems.
abstract: The traditional membrane filter (American Public Health Association, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, 16th ed., American Public Health Association, Washington, D.C., 1985) and presence-absence (P-A) (J. A. Clark, Can. J. Microbiol. 14:13-18, 1968) techniques for the detection of coliform bacteria were compared in a small nonchlorinated drinking water distribution system by using total positive samples and frequency-of-occurrence analyses. No significant differences (P less than 0.05) were found in detection of the presence of coliform bacteria or in changes in the frequency of occurrence with time. A reduction in P-A sample volume (to 50 ml) was not found to statistically affect the comparative results of traditional membrane filter and P-A tests.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond 70402.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bancroft
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Childers
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply