If you are using a non-Defined Substrate Technology (DST®) method, you are not getting the specificity in your results that you could be getting with Colilert. While imitators may claim to be as effective as Colilert, peer-reviewed studies have shown that these non-DST methods provide a high rate of false-positives.¹ This is because they are based upon formulations that feed all bacteria contained in a given sample, both target and non-target organisms alike.

By contrast, IDEXX’s DST-based products produced highly reliable results. DST media are capable of detecting 1 viable cfu/100 mL while suppressing up to 2 million cfu/100 mL of non-target organisms.

That is why, across the globe, IDEXX Colilert® tests, which use the patented DST method, are trusted by public officials more than any other method for coliform and E. coli testing in water. Colilert is now used more than all other methods combined in U.S., Canadian and Japanese drinking-water markets. It is the method of choice for nearly 100% of United States state health laboratories.

Colilert, Colilert-18, and Quanti-Tray have U.S. EPA approvals that span multiple waters—Drinking Water¹, Source Water², Recreational Water³—and the proposed Waste Water Rule⁴. Less reliable imitators of Colilert are approved for finished drinking water only.

¹

U.S. Federal Register - 40 CFR Part 141 Vol. 54 and 57, No 124 and 112

²

U.S. Federal Register - 40 CFR Part 141 Vol. 71, No 3

³

U.S. Federal Register - 40 CFR Part 136 Vol. 68, No 139

⁴

U.S. Federal Register - 40 CFR Part 136 Vol. 70, No 157

Industry Approval

IDEXX products (Colilert®, Colilert®-18 and Colisure®) are the only commercial rapid coliform/E. coli test kits included in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater.²

Inclusion in Standard Methods requires the publication of several peer-reviewed papers. In fact, dozens of peer-reviewed studies have consistently shown Colilert and Colilert-18 to be the most reliable and easy to use water microbiology test kits available³, something that other products cannot claim.

Unmatched Ease of Use

Not only do Colilert and Colilert-18 demonstrate the accuracy required by public health and regulatory officials, they also offer unparalleled benefits of ease and convenience.

• Colilert-18 has the fastest read time in the industry, with accurate results in 18 hours
• Colilert and Colilert-18 have flexible read times, offering a 4-hour window
• Colisure offers the option of an even broader read window between 24 and 48 hours

Flexibility for the Way You Operate

All three coliform/E. coli tests can be used for Presence/Absence testing or for quantification testing using IDEXX Quanti-Tray® and Quanti-Tray®/2000 quantification methods based upon the Standard Methods Most Probable Number (MPN) model.

Reliable Results

IDEXX entered the water-testing market in 1993 with Colilert® and continues to develop easy, rapid, accurate and costeffective water-testing solutions for our customers. Our sales, customer service and technical support teams serve customers all over the world to ensure that you have confidence in our products, and the best support in the industry. We believe that this is an important advantage when considering your testing needs.

TECH TIP

For Colilert® P/A and Quanti-Tray® testing, the 24-hour incubation time includes the time that it takes to bring the sample temperature up to 35°C. This is specified in the 5th Edition of the U.S. EPA Manual for the Certification of Laboratories Analyzing Drinking Water (Chapter 5, page V-17).

• Enterolert® for detecting and quantifying enterococci in 24 hours
• Filta-Max® for Cryptosporidium and Giardia capture and recovery
• SimPlate® for HPC, an easier method for pour-plate users

All are backed by IDEXX’s outstanding customer service, technical support, product availability and committed Research & Development resources.

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