title: Multiparametric comparison of chromogenic-based culture methods used to assess the microbiological quality of drinking water and the mFC method combined with a molecular confirmation procedure.
abstract: MI agar and Colilert(®), as well as mFC agar combined with an Escherichia coli-specific molecular assay (mFC + E. coli rtPCR), were compared in terms of their sensitivity, ease of use, time to result and affordability. The three methods yielded a positive E. coli signal for 11.5, 10.8, and 11.5% of the 968 well water samples tested, respectively. One hundred and thirty-six (136) samples gave blue colonies on mFC agar and required confirmation. E. coli-specific rtPCR showed false-positive results in 23.5% (32/136) of cases. In terms of ease of use, Colilert was the simplest method to use while the MI method provided ease of use comparable to all membrane filtration methods. However, the mFC + E. coli rtPCR assay required highly trained employees for confirmation purposes. In terms of affordability, and considering contamination rate of well water samples tested, the Colilert method and the mFC + E. coli rtPCR assay were at least five times more costly than the MI agar method. Overall, compared with the other two methods tested, the MI agar method offers the most advantages to assess drinking water quality.
authors.affiliation: Chaire de recherche en eau potable de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada E-mail: andree.maheux.3@ulaval.ca; École supérieure d'aménagement du territoire et de développement régional, Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Andrée F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Maheux
authors.affiliation: Chaire de recherche en eau potable de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada E-mail: andree.maheux.3@ulaval.ca; Centre de recherche en aménagement et développement de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dion-Dupont
authors.affiliation: Chaire de recherche en eau potable de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada E-mail: andree.maheux.3@ulaval.ca; Centre de recherche en aménagement et développement de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Marc-Antoine
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bisson
authors.affiliation: Chaire de recherche en eau potable de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada E-mail: andree.maheux.3@ulaval.ca; Centre de recherche en aménagement et développement de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Sébastien
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouchard
authors.affiliation: Chaire de recherche en eau potable de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada E-mail: andree.maheux.3@ulaval.ca; Centre de recherche en aménagement et développement de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Éric
authors.initials: É
authors.lastname: Jubinville
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche en aménagement et développement de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nkuranga
authors.affiliation: Exova Canada Inc., Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Lynda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigue
authors.affiliation: Centre de recherche en infectiologie de l'Université Laval, Axe Maladies infectieuses et immunitaires, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec, Québec City (Quebec), Canada and Département de microbiologie-infectiologie et d'immunologie, Faculté de médecine, Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Michel G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.affiliation: Chaire de recherche en eau potable de l'Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada E-mail: andree.maheux.3@ulaval.ca; École supérieure d'aménagement du territoire et de développement régional, Université Laval, Québec City (Quebec), Canada.
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000191:economics; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003470:Culture Media; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D060766:Drinking Water; D000362:Agar