Coliphage association with coliform indicators: A case study—Brazil

Many microbiological tests are currently available for evaluating the suitability of water resources for human use. Cost, speed, simplicity, and the ability of the test to detect microbial contamination are some of the key factors involved in selecting the appropriate test. The performance of the test often depends on the nature of the tested water and hence it is necessary to evaluate the test under local conditions. This paper compares the performance of several microbiological tests on Brazilian waters. These tests include traditional coliform tests, and the presence/absence and coliphage tests.