Microbiology

The determination of the microbial quality of environmental samples---water, food, soil---can be accomplished via TMI’s extensive microbiological methods and instrumentation capabilities to yield bacteriological and fungal (mold) enumeration and characterization.

Drinking water samples can be analyzed for total heterotrophic bacteria, total coliform bacteria and fecal coliform/E. coli bacteria. All TMI drinking water analytical methods follow the regulations outlined in the Illinois Department of Public Health’s drinking water laboratory accreditation program. Additional capabilities are focused on the microbial assessment of recreational waters (bathing beaches), and wastewater streams. The IDEXX analytical methods used by TMI yield presence/absence (P/A) results for coliforms and/or E. coli via the chromogenic MMO-MUG substrates. TMI also employs the IDEXX Quantitray system to yield quantitative total coliform and total E. coli data at the request of clients.

TMI also utilizes the 3M Petrifilm© testing method for the microbiological assessment of non-regulated substances including other aqueous, soil and food samples.