Consumer Microbiology - Forms and Available Tests

Submission Form

Water Bacteriology Form No. G-19 (PDF 33kb viewing information)

View Frequently Asked Questions for submission guidelines.

Available Tests

Note: Only drinking water testing is available to the general public. All other testing must be submitted through Public Health Sanitarians.

Water Testing

Test Method Acceptable Results Frequency
Drinking Water Colilert No Coliforms found At least once every three years, or whenever well or system repairs are made
Bay Water A-1 modified method <14/100 mL As needed upon request by Public Health Sanitarians
Dairy Water

Multiple tube fermentation

Colilert

<1.1/100 mL

<1.0/100 mL

As needed upon request by Public Health Sanitarians

Milk Testing

Test Method Acceptable Results Frequency
Standard Plate count

PAC - pasteurized

PAC - producer

PAC - commingled

20,000/mL

100,000/mL

300,000/mL

At least four times during any consecutive six month period.
Coliform Count PCC/HSCC <10/mL As requested by Public Health Sanitarians only
Growth Inhibitors

Charm SL-3

Delvotest

Charm SLBL

Charm Tetra-SL

Charm Sulfa-SL

Not Found As requested by Public Health Sanitarians only
Somatic Cell Counts

OSCC

DMSCC

Cow:  750,000/mL
Goat: 1,5000,000/mL
As requested by Public Health Sanitarians only
Alkaline Phosphatase Advanced Fluorometer Not Found As requested by Public Health Sanitarians only
Freezing Point Cryoscope <-0.525º Horvet As requested by Public Health Sanitarians only
Pathogens

BAX system

BAM

VIDAS

Not Found As requested by Public Health Sanitarians only
Aflatoxins Charm SL-Aflatoxin <500 ppt As requested by Public Health Sanitarians only

Food Testing

Food is tested only upon request from DSHS, local city county health departments, and hospitals. All food testing is done by standard methods following the Bacteriological Analytical Manual, FDA, 8th Edition.

Tests Methods
  • Campylobacter spp.
  • Cronobacter spp.  
  • Escherichia coli O157:H7 
  • Non-0157 STEC Organisms (026, 045, 0103, 0111, 0121, and 0145)
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Shigella spp.
  • Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin  
  • Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus
  • Yersinia enterocolitica
  • BAX system
  • Traditional Culture Methods (BAM)
  • VIDAS