Colifast Field Kit

Colifast Field Kit

Colifast Field Kit is a portable tool for field detection of coliform bacteria in water. Three methods are available with the kit:

The Rapid method

Presence/absence

Quantitative (MPN)

The main method of the kit is a rapid method that provides an answer as early as 75 minutes, 2 hours at the latest (limited to levels above 500 cfu/100ml). In addition, the kit includes methods for a quantitative MPN (Most Probable Number) method and presence/absence results. The procedure is very easy to perform, and requires no laboratory skills. Colifast Field Kit is delivered in a robust and portable metal case, and all equipment required for the water analysis is included. The Colifast Micro Detector (CMD) is used in combination with a growth medium for specific detection of target bacteria. Combined, they provide a simple  analysis and rapid results that quantify the amount of coliform and thermotolerant bacteria in water. The method is based upon the patented technology of Colifast AS.

Spreadsheet for calculating the bacterial concentrations when conducting the Rapid method.

WebTool for calculating bacterial concentrations when using the rapid method

Method

The Colifast technology is based on a chemical reaction between a substrate in the growth medium and enzymes produced by the coliform bacteria. The bacterial enzyme β-D-galactosidase hydrolyses the substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-galactoside, which results in the release of the fluorescent product 4-methylumbelliferone (MU). In addition to substrate, activators and growth factors, the medium comprises inhibitors that prevent the growth of non-coliform bacteria. The results are measured in fluorescent units. An increase in the number of bacteria corresponds to an increased amount of β-D-galactosidase (enzyme). The subsequent increase in the amount of MU (fluorescent product) results in a higher value on the instrument (Colifast Micro Detector). The incubation temperature selects for thermotolerant coliforms at 44 °C and total coliforms at 37 °C.

Colifast Field kit

Content

  • Colifast Micro Detector with storage pouch
  • Incubator with thermometer, 220 V
  • Car converter 12 V – 220 V
  • Cable for battery poles
  • 18 Prefilled vials with Colifast 6 medium
  • 2 dropper bottles with 0,5 M NaOH solution (developer)
  • Vial with Blank (calibration)
  • Vial with Cal 48 (calibration)
  • Dropper bottle with 10% Na-thiosulfate solution (chloride neutralization)
  • 100 cuvettes (disposable)
  • 100 cuvette caps (disposable)
  • Cuvette rack
  • 20 large pastettes for sub-sampling (3 ml graded, one for each test)
  • 3 sterile 10 ml syringes for addition of water sample (can be reused after wash)
  • Ethanol tissues (5 psc) for disinfection
  • 2 sterile filters. For control samples, fits on syringe
  • Manual
  • Quick guide
  • 10 result sheets

Field Kit Brochure
CMD Technical Note

Field kit content

Field kit content