A suitable replacement for teepol 610 in the selective isolation of coliforms from marine waters and sewage

The standard British culture medium for the enumeration of coliform bacteria by the membrane-filter technique is 0.4% enriched Teepol broth. However, Teepol 610, the selective agent used in this medium, is no longer commercially available. Sodium lauryl sulphate, at a concentration of 0.1% w/v, has been shown to be a suitable alternative selective agent, in the same basal medium, for the analysis of sewage and polluted marine water. Presumptive counts, and percentages of colonies confirmed as coliforms, were very similar in all trials where 0.4% Teepol and 0.1% lauryl sulphate media were compared. The new medium can easily be prepared using the same Oxoid dehydrated broth base used to prepare 0.4% Teepol medium.