U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

On Oct. 1, 2024, the FDA began implementing a reorganization impacting many parts of the agency. We are in the process of updating FDA.gov content to reflect these changes.

  1. Home
  2. Food
  3. Science & Research (Food)
  4. Laboratory Methods (Food)
  5. BAM Chapter 4: Enumeration of Escherichia coli and the Coliform Bacteria
  1. Laboratory Methods (Food)

BAM Chapter 4: Enumeration of Escherichia coli and the Coliform Bacteria

Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) Main Page

Authors

Peter Feng (ret.), Stephen D. Weagant (ret.), Michael A. Grant (dec.), William Burkhardt


Editions 

Current Edition

Previous Editions

Original Source

  • Bacteriological Analytical Manual, 8th Edition, Revision A, 1998. Chapter 4.

Revision History

  • October 2020 - Section I A.3 modified to reflect that enrichment should take place at 35 ± 0.5⁰C and not at 35 ± 1⁰C.
  • July 2017 - Chap. 4 Sec. I. E. For the completed phase of testing for E. coli, the incubation temperature of EC tubes has been changed from 45.5 ± 0.2°C to 44.5 ± 0.2°C. The change was made in part due to the poor ability of the control strain ATCC25922 to grown and ferment lactose to produce acid and gas at 45.5 ± 0.2°C. The use of 44.5 ± 0.2°C would also make it consistent with that used for fecal Coliform analysis in shellfish and shellfish meats (Sec. VI) as well as conditions used for E. coli testing by other International organizations.
  • February 2013 - Shellfish analysis method revised to be consistent with the APHA Examination of seawater and shellfish, 4th ed.
  • February 2013 - Membrane filter methods added to water analysis.

 

Back to Top