Method of enumerating coliform colonies

1. A method of enumerating gas-producing coliform bacteria present in a cultured dairy product, the method comprising:

forming a mixture that comprises a quantity of the dairy product and a volume of a diluent, wherein the diluent comprises MOPS at a concentration of ≥20 mM and ≤50 mM;

inoculating a thin film culture device with the mixture to form a hydrogel comprising a nutrient medium for growing coliform bacteria, and sufficient lactose to permit formation of an observable gas bubble by a lactose-fermenting colony of the coliform bacteria, and;

incubating the inoculated thin film culture device under conditions that facilitate growth of a coliform bacterium; and

identifying and counting a gas-producing colony present in the inoculated culture device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas-producing coliform bacteria comprises Serratia liquefaciens.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the effective concentration of MOPS in the hydrogel is ≤40 mM.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of the MOPS in the diluent is ≥25 mM and is ≤45 mM.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture has a pH between 5.0 and 8.0.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cultured dairy product is selected from the group consisting of yogurt, sour cream, buttermilk, curd, leben, calpis, kefir, ayran, qatiq, clabber, and cottage cheese.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of lactose in the hydrogel is ≥0.5% (w/v).

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the concentration of lactose in the hydrogel is ≤1.25% (w/v).

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein counting a gas-producing colony comprises counting a colony of the genus Serratia.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein, after inoculating the thin film culture device, the hydrogel comprises a nutrient medium that facilitates growth of coliform bacteria.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein, after inoculating the thin film culture device, the hydrogel comprises a selective agent that inhibits growth of non-coliform bacteria.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein, prior to inoculating the thin film culture device, prior to inoculating the thin film culture device, the culture device comprises the selective agent.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the selective agent is present in the thin film culture device as a substantially water-free composition.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein incubating the inoculated thin film culture device under conditions that facilitate growth of a coliform bacterium comprises incubating the thin film culture device at a temperature in a range of 35-37° C., inclusive.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thin film culture device comprises a substrate, a coversheet, and a dry, rehydratable cold water-soluble gelling agent disposed between the substrate and the coversheet; wherein inoculating the thin film culture device with the mixture to form the hydrogel comprises forming the hydrogel that contacts the coversheet and the substrate of the device; and wherein identifying a gas-producing colony comprises observing a void in the hydrogel proximate the colony.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein observing the void in the hydrogel comprises observing a void that has a dimension of at least 0.5 mm along a straight line that passes through the void.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the void is disposed in the hydrogel <1.5 mm away from a visually-detectable colony of bacteria.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein counting a gas-producing colony comprises counting the gas-producing colony using an automated colony-counting apparatus.