Comparison of Standard Methods, MTF, and MF, by the Colilert Rapid Test for the Enumeration of Coliform Bacteria in High Salinity Water, Arabian Gulf, Doha, Qatar

Abstract

Colilert Rapid test was compared with the traditional methods (multiple tube fermentation (MTF) and Membrane filtration (MF)) to enumerate total and fecal coliform in marine water. Colilert method is based on specific indicator nutrients: ONPG and MUG for the target microbes, and chemically suppresses non-coliform bacterial growth. It is more rapid, providing results in as little as 18 h compared to the 24–96 h required for traditional methods. The results reported that Colilert method was more sensitive in detecting fecal coliform than the traditional methods (MTF and MF). No significance difference between it and MF in enumeration of total coliform. While, there were significant differences with both MF and MTF in enumeration of fecal coliform. It was more close to MF than MTF. The study recommended MF technique for detecting and enumerating coliform bacteria in marine water due to the high values of false positive results detected by Colilert method.

Keywords

• mtf
• and mf
• colilert rapid test
• coliform bacteria
• high salinity water
• arabian gulf
• doha
• qatar