COLIKAT RAPID – Fast Effictive enumation of drinking water bacteria
COLIKAT RAPID® is a fast test to simultaneously detect both total coliforms and Escherichia coli in water samples providing the test’s results within 18 hours. COLIKAT RAPID® is suited for the entire water matrix.
The water samples to be tested are incubated overnight so that they are ready to read early the next day. Therefore COLIKAT RAPID® delivers significant workflow benefits and speed in the event of a contamination issue. The test’s high sensitivity enables early coliform detection in water distribution systems, assisting to help to reduce biofilm buildup and sporadic downstream contamination events. As compared to the alternative conventional method using Chromogenic Coliform Agar (CCA; ISO 9308-1) for detection, COLIKAT RAPID® significantly reduces false alarms created by inaccurate false positive results which give rise to uncertainty and unnecessary expense.
Effective
Simultaneous detection and quantification of Escherichia coli and total coliforms for the entire water matrix. As well as thermotollerant coliforms
Fast
Less than 30 seconds hands on time and results after 18 hours.
Efficient
Optimized workflow in your laboratory: The sample evaluation takes place after 18 hours before the reception of next days’ samples.
Verified
Enumeration of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria in water samples acc. to EN ISO 9308-2.
Independently Varified – ISO 17994 study results
- IWW Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wasser Beratungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH as independent and internationally recognized experts have carried out a comparison study on behalf of Xebios to evaluate the equivalence of Colikat Rapid® as reference method.
- The study has been carried out in accordance with the requirements of EN ISO 17994:2014: Water Quality – Requirements for the comparison of the relative recovery of microorganisms by two quantitative methods.
- 522 sample-pairs were used for the comparison of the test systems’ performance for the enumeration of the key target organism Escherichia coli, 470 sample-pairs for coliform bacteria were included into the study – providing a profound database to guarantee statistically sound statements within EN ISO 17994’s test design.
- Colikat Rapid® has a significantly higher recovery for E. coli
- Methods are equivalent regarding the enumeration of coliform bacteria.
Products benefits:
- Significantly higher recovery for the key target organism Escherichia coli
- 1:1 equivalent results regarding coliform bacteria
- The COLIKAT RAPID® reagent dissolves significantly faster in the sample
- No antifoam is needed for the majority of water samples
- Saves more then 80% volume of waste and storage area for the COLIKAT RAPID® reagent
- Manufactured and distributed by your reliable service partners Xebios Diagnostics GmbH and our local established and experienced distribution partners
Test Principle
COLIKAT RAPID® uses certain specific characteristics of both Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria for identification of the species. The test contains MUG and ONPG, two common nutritional indicators. Coliform bacteria use their enzyme β-Galactosidase to metabolize ONPG turning the sample yellow. Escherichia coli – other then most coliform bacteria – additionally has the enzyme β-Glucuronidase that enables it to hydrolyze MUG so that the sample additionally shows fluorescence under UV-light.
Most of non-coliform bacteria possess neither the β-Galactosidase nor the β-Glucuronidase. Therefore, they cannot transform MUG and ONPG and the test will not detect them. Yet, some non-coliform bacteria contain the enzymes. COLIKAT RAPID® therefore uses selective supplements that inhibit the growth of those bacteria. The combination of the test’s enzymes and selective supplements prevents some common problems of conventional culture methods such as Chromogen Coliform Agar CCA (EN ISO 9308-1):
- False positive results are prevented (for example for Aeromonas spec.)
- The growth of non-target organism is prohibited. This way non-target organisms cannot affect (or even inhibit) the growth of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria
Regulatory Environment and Compliance
COLIKAT RAPID® is a fast test to simultaneously detect both total coliforms and Escherichia coli in water samples. The testing method has been described as ISO standard for detecting total coliforms and Escherichia coli in water (ISO 9308-2). In European Union (EU) Directive 2015/1787 EC requires the member states to – implement ISO 9308-2 into national legislation.
The requirements for the quality of water intended for human consumption within the European Union are bindingly set by EU regulation:
- DIRECTIVE 98/83/EC – quality of water intended for human consumption
- DIRECTIVE 2015/1787 EC amending Annexes II and III to Council Directive 98/83/EC on the quality of water intended for human consumption
A number of ISO standards have been established for analyzing microbiological parameters. EN ISO 9308-1 and EN ISO 9308-2 (for the enumeration of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria) provide all necessary specifications for performing the analysis of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria. The actual standards to be applied, reflecting the latest scientific and technical progress, are reflected by the amendments to Annex III of Directive 98/83/EC. The microbiological parameters and methods of analysis are specified in Annex III to Directive 98/83/EC that has been amended as follows by Directive 2015/1787 EC:
“The methods for microbiological parameters are:
(a) Escherichia coli (E. coli) and coliform bacteria (EN ISO 9308-1 or EN ISO 9308-2)
(b) Enterococci (EN ISO 7899-2)
(c) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (EN ISO 16266)
(d) enumeration of culturable microorganisms — colony count 22 °C (EN ISO 6222)
(e) enumeration of culturable microorganisms — colony count 36 °C (EN ISO 6222)
(f) Clostridium perfringens including spores (EN ISO 14189)’;
The directive requires the member states to implement ISO 9308-2 into national legislation: According to Directive 2015/1787 EC, “Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 27 October 2017 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions.” As a result of the European legislation, all member states will have to accept EN ISO 9308-2 as method for the analysis of water samples of water intended for human consumption to ensure compliance with EU legislation. Germany has already implemented the new EU regulation into national law:
In Germany, the relevant law to comply with Directive 2015/1787 EC is the “Trinkwasserverordnung” (TrinkWV): “Diese Verordnung dient der Umsetzung der Richtlinie (EU) 2015/1787 der Kommission vom 06. Oktober 2015 zur Änderung der Anhänge II und III der Richtlinie 98/83/EG des Rates über die Qualität von Wasser für den menschlichen Gebrauch.“
The TrinkWV has been adapted to comply with the new EU regulation (with delay) on 03. January 2018. The new TrinkWV has been published in the “Bundesgesetzblatt” and therefore has become effective on 08. January 2018. According to § 15 (1a) Nr. 1 the following methods are to be used for the analysis of drinking water: “Coliforme Bakterien und Escherichia coli (E. coli): DIN EN ISO 9308-1:2017-09 oder DIN EN ISO 9308-2:2014-06.”
DIN EN ISO 9308-2:2014-06 states
(a) the typical composition of the medium to be used.
(b) that the circumstance, that the method has been named as branded by its inventor, does clearly not state exclusivity to produce and use the formulation described by EN ISO 9308-2.
Quality
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