1 Scope
This part of ISO 21528 specifies a method, with pre-enrichment, for the detection of Enterobacteriaceae. It is applicable to
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— products intended for human consumption and the feeding of animals, and
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— environmental samples in the area of food production and food handling.
Enumeration is carried out by calculation of the most probable number (MPN) after incubation at 37 °C (or 30 °C)1) in liquid medium.
This method is applicable
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— when the microorganisms sought are expected to need resuscitation before enrichment, and
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— when the number sought is expected to be in the range 1 to 100 per millilitre or per gram of test sample.
A limitation on the applicability of this part of ISO 21528 is imposed by the susceptibility of the method to a large degree of variability (see Clause 11).