Ohio Water Microbiology Lab
Research Topics
Internal Information
Ohio Water Science Center
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OWML: QA/QC
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual: Ohio Water Microbiology
Laboratory
Compliance and official methods
Coliphage
The method
currently in use for quantitative coliphage analysis by the Ohio Water
Microbiology Laboratory (OWML) is the USEPA Method 1602, single-agar layer (SAL)
procedure (USEPA, 2001b) (Appendix
O). This method is generally most suitable for quantification of coliphage
in surface-water samples. Antibiotic-resistant E. coli CN-13 (resistant to
nalidixic acid) and E. coli F-amp (resistant to streptomycin and ampicillin) are
used as bacterial hosts for somatic and F-specific coliphage, respectively.
Procedures for quality-control samples are described in
Appendix O. Results are
recorded on a QC log form (Appendix
P).
The method currently in use for qualitative determination of coliphage in larger
sample volumes at the OWML is the USEPA Method 1601, two-step enrichment method
(USEPA, 2001a). Sample volumes of 1 L are recommended for detec¬tion of
coliphage using this method. Because the SAL method is impractical for sample
volumes above 100 mL, the two-step enrichment method is often used for
ground-water sample analysis. A summary of Method 1601 can be found in
Appendix Q. Results from
quality-control samples are recorded on a QC log form (Appendix
R).
Results from coliphage QC samples are recorded in the LIMS. Coliphage QC log
forms are kept in the Sample Logbook with the Service Request Forms. A second
book, coliphage QC log book, contains information on media sterility, additional
quality-control samples, and coliphage stock enumeration results. Information on
host culture strains is maintained in LIMS. |