Laboratory Instruments > Microbiological Testing


Drinking water supplies, swimming pools and spas are all regularly monitored for dangerous bacteria such as E.Coli. Palintest supplies a comprehensive range of products for these tests.

1.Incubator

Palintest's Incubator MV is a compact multi-voltage incubator designed for general use in a laboratory and for use in a motor vehicle. It is ideally suited for use with Palintest's Coliform Testing System and Dipslides.
The Palintest Incubator MV is extremely simple to use. Firstly connect the incubator to the appropriate power supply. Position the 'Set Temperature' knob to 37°C. Allow the incubator to warm up for 30 minutes then adjust the control as necessary until the desired temperature is achieved. The temperature should be checked using the incubator thermometer supplied. Place the thermometer standing upright in the chamber of the incubator. The incubator has a nominal operating temperature range of 25 - 45°C.
Samples should be placed directly on the base of the incubator as soon as possible after inoculation. Avoid putting too many samples in the incubator at the same time as this may depress the temperature for a longer period.
The incubator may be used with 12v cable in a motor vehicle for the collection or transfer of samples. When the destination is reached, the incubator can be transferred to the laboratory and operated from the mains supply.

2.Colitag

A simple, reliable technique is required which enables the rapid, confirmed enumeration of both total coliforms and more importantly, E. coli. Colitag is a pre-dispensed dry blended reagent formulation containing salts, nitrogen and carbon sources and specific indicator/nutrients for total coliform and E. coli. Positive samples are detected by a visible colour change.
Performing the Coliform test is simple. The reagent is supplied in pre-measured dosage tubes for dispensing into sterile containers. Simply fill a sterile tube to the level, mix and then incubate at 35 ° C. The formation of a yellow colour in 24 hours or less indicates the presence of total coliforms.
Positive tubes are then checked for the presence of E.Coli by looking for fluorescence under UV light.

3. L8 Kit

Fatal outbreaks of Legionnaires' Disease show strict control and monitoring measures are more important than ever. The Palintest L8 Kit helps monitor the conditions that may allow Legionella to grow.
Since the first reported cases of Legionnaires' Disease in 1976, outbreaks of this potentially fatal disease remains a threat. This has highlighted the need for frequent monitoring and testing of potential sources of infection.
It has been assembled in-line with the new Health and Safety Commission guidelines on Legionella which require that specific, weekly tests be carried out on potential sources of infection. All the components needed for these tests are provided in the kit.

4. Dipslides

Palintest TTC/M Dipslides are a combination slide for the detection of bacteria, yeasts and moulds in fluids and on surfaces. These slides provide a simple means of enumerating these micro-organisms in industrial and environmental applications.
They find particular application for monitoring cooling water and similar recirculating water systems, natural waters and effluents and industrial cutting fluids.
Palintest TTC/M Dipslides comprise a simple agar slide contained in a plastic test tube. The lighter colour medium comprises nutrient agar for total aerobic count of bacteria (plate count).
The medium contains TTC dye which stains most colonies red for easy enumeration. The darker coloured medium comprises malt agar from the growth of yeasts and moulds. Yeast appear as low round white or grey discs, mould appear as furry colonies. After incubation, the slide surfaces are simply compared against the appropriate chart to obtain the bacteria, yeast or mould count.
The range of detection for bacteria and yeasts is 103 – 107 CFU/ml for fluids or 5 – 250 CFU/cm2 for surfaces. The range of detection for moulds is 102 - 104 CFU/ml for fluids and 0.4 – 4 CFU/cm2 for surfaces.