HiCrome™ Chromogenic Coliform Agar is a selective medium designed for the simultaneous detection of Escherichia coli and coliforms in water samples with minimal background flora. These samples may include drinking water, disinfected pool water, or finished water from drinking water treatment plants. The composition and performance of this medium comply with the specifications outlined in ISO 9308-1:2014.

The enzyme ß-D-galactosidase, produced by coliforms, cleaves the substrate 6-chloro-3-indoxyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, forming pink to red-colored colonies.

For E. coli detection, the substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl-β-D-glucuronic acid is used to identify β-D-glucuronidase activity, characteristic of E. coli. In addition, E. coli also cleaves 6-chloro-3-indoxyl-β-D-galactopyranoside, leading to the formation of dark blue to violet colonies.

This dual chromogenic reaction enables easy differentiation between E. coli and total coliforms in water samples.

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