PathoScreen Field Test Kit

The Pathoscreen™ Field Test Kit contains enough media for 20 presence-absence tests using 100 mL sample, or for 100 MPN tests using 20 mL sample. Pathoscreen™ medium was developed for quick detection of common pathogens in drinking water, surface water, or recreational water. Pathoscreen™ media is for the detection of fecal, sulfide-producing bacteria like Salmonella, Citrobacter, Proteus, Edwardsiella and Klebsiella (some spp.) using the Most Probable Number Method (MPN), Hach Method 10032 or the presence/absence test, Hach Method 8506. Pathoscreen™ can also be used as an alternative method to coliform testing to obtain a Presence/Absence (P/A) test result.

The medium relies on the production of hydrogen sulfide as an indication of the presence of pathogenic bacteria. When using traditional coliform methods in tropical environments, indigenous E. coli may produce positive reactions when no fecal contamination exists. However, E. coli does not interfere with the Pathoscreen™ test, making it a suitable alternative for monitoring drinking water systems in developing tropical countries, remote field locations, and disaster or emergency situations. Pathoscreen™ medium may also be incubated at ambient temperatures between 25 °C and 35 °C if an incubator is not available.
With either the P/A or MPN method, hydrogen sulfide production causes a black color to develop in the medium when incubated at 30 °C for 24 – 48 hours. A color change from yellow to black and/or black precipitate formation, the result is positive for hydrogen sulfide producing bacteria.