Coliforms are bacteria that are ubiquitously present in the digestive systems of humans and animals. Coliforms are also found in plant and soil materials.
Water pollution caused by fecal contamination is a serious problem because of the potential to contract disease from disease-causing organisms (pathogens). Often, pathogen concentrations from faecal contamination are low and the number of possible different pathogens is large. It is impractical to test for pathogens in every water sample collected. Therefore, instead, the presence of pathogens is determined by indirect evidence by testing an indicative organism such as coliform bacteria.
Coliforms come from the same sources as pathogenic organisms. Coliforms are fairly easy to identify. It generally outnumbers the more dangerous pathogens and responds to the environment and wastewater treatment in a similar way to many pathogens. Therefore, testing for coliform bacteria is considered a reasonable indicator of the presence of other pathogenic bacteria.
The primary test method to detect bacterial contamination in a water supply is the total coliform bacteria test. Total coliform bacteria counts provide an overall indication of the sanitary status of a water source. Total coliforms include bacteria found in soil, surface water-affected water, and human or animal waste. Fecal coliforms are the total group of coliforms thought to be specifically present in the feces of animals. Fecal coliforms are considered a more accurate indicator of animal or human waste than total coliforms. Escherichia coli bacterium is the main species in the fecal coliform group.
In our laboratories, "Colifoma Bacteria Counting" is carried out in accordance with the legal regulations and standards related to TÜRKAK accreditation.
