This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Loehr, R. C. Articles by Schwegler, D. T. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Loehr, R. C. Articles by Schwegler, D. T. Agricola Articles by Loehr, R. C. Articles by Schwegler, D. T.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1965 November; 13(6): 1005-1009
Copyright © 1965 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Filtration Method for Bacteriophage Detection

Environmental Health Engineering Laboratory, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

ABSTRACT

A filtration method has been developed which can be used to detect and enumerate phage in low concentrations directly from solution without the need for prior concentration. In this method, a known volume of the phage solution is mixed with a suitable host solution. Samples are filtered through membrane filters; the filter is removed and incubated, and after 24 hr the resultant plaques are counted and the titer is calculated. Escherichia coli B and the coliphage T2 were used in these studies. Host cultures less than 12 hr old produced the best results. Approximately 10¹⁰ host organisms must be present in the sample taken for filtration. To avoid phage reproduction, all steps prior to filtration must be done in less than 45 min. The method was compared with the soft-agar technique and was shown to be less precise but able to measure phage in lower concentrations.