Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 75%
Practice
During sanitary and bacteriological testing of water with the membrane filter technique there were revealed two red colonies on a membrane filter (Endo agar) through which 500 ml of water was filtred. Calculate the coli index and coli titer of the analyzed water:
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C (coli index of 250 and coli titer of 4). The coli index is calculated by multiplying the number of colonies by the reciprocal of the volume filtered, which gives 2 colonies x (1/0.5 L) = 4. The coli titer is obtained by dividing the volume filtered by the number of colonies, which gives 0.5 L / 2 colonies = 0.25 L or 250 ml. This indicates the concentration of coliform bacteria in the water sample.
Choice A (4 and 250) is incorrect because it has the correct coli index but the values are reversed for coli index and coli titer. Choice B (2 and 500) is incorrect as it provides the correct coli titer value but the values are reversed for coli index and coli titer. Choice D (500 and 2) is incorrect because it reverses the values for both coli index and coli titer.
Choice A (4 and 250) is incorrect because it has the correct coli index but the values are reversed for coli index and coli titer. Choice B (2 and 500) is incorrect as it provides the correct coli titer value but the values are reversed for coli index and coli titer. Choice D (500 and 2) is incorrect because it reverses the values for both coli index and coli titer.