Methods and compositions for rapidly detecting and quantifying viable
Methods and compositions detect and quantify viable Legionella . Dip-slides that include an absorbent medium, growth promoting, and growth selective substances are useful in rapid detection and quantification of microcolonies of Legionella . Most probable number method of detection and quantification of Legionella are disclosed.
1. A dip-slide for rapidly quantifying viable Legionella bacteria in a sample, the slide comprising an absorbent medium, nutrients for Legionella bacteria, at least one agent to selectively inhibit the growth of non- Legionella microorganisms, and wherein the dip-slide is adapted to absorb a predetermined amount of the sample.
2. The dip-slide of claim 1 , wherein the absorbent medium comprises agarose in a concentration of about 0.5 wt % to about 10.0 wt %.
3. The dip-slide of claim 1 , wherein the dip-slide is adapted to absorb about 0.3 ml in about 60 seconds.
4. The dip-slide of claim 1 further defined as comprising:
(a) a sterile plastic screw-capped container;
(b) a paddle within the container;
(c) buffered charcoal yeast extract agar enriched with α-ketaglutarate (BCYEα) on one side of the paddle; and
(d) BCYEα agar plus the selective supplements glycine, vancomycin, polymyxin B and cyclohexmide (GVPC) on the other side of the paddle.