BS EN ISO 7899-2-2000 (2008) BS 6068-4.4-2000 PDF

Full title and description

STB BS EN ISO 7899-2-2000 (adopted as BS 6068-4.4-2000) — Water quality — Detection and enumeration of intestinal enterococci — Part 2: Membrane filtration method. This document specifies a membrane-filtration two-step procedure for the isolation, enumeration and confirmation of intestinal enterococci (Enterococcus spp.) in water using selective media (primary isolation on Slanetz and Bartley medium followed by confirmation on bile‑aesculin‑azide agar) and defined incubation conditions.

Abstract

This standard describes a membrane filtration method suitable for the detection and enumeration of intestinal enterococci in a wide range of water types (including surface and waste waters, bathing waters, drinking and pool waters where applicable). The method uses a 0.45 µm membrane filter, incubation on Slanetz and Bartley medium with TTC indicator to yield presumptive colonies, and confirmation by transfer to bile‑aesculin‑azide agar. It includes requirements for sample handling, incubation temperatures and times, quality assurance and reporting.

General information

• Status: Published / Adopted national implementation (BS adoption of EN ISO method) — confirmed as current by review cycles.
• Publication date: 2000 (ISO publication April 2000; BSI adoption 2000; BSI review/confirmation noted in 2008).
• Publisher: International: ISO (ISO 7899-2:2000); National adoption/publisher: BSI as BS EN ISO 7899-2 and as BS 6068-4.4:2000.
• ICS / categories: Microbiology and water quality (ICS codes reported include 07.100.20 and 13.060.70).
• Edition / version: Second edition of ISO 7899-2 (2000); simultaneously published/adopted as BS EN ISO 7899-2:2000 and as BS 6068-4.4:2000.
• Number of pages: ISO original document listed as 7 pages (ISO format); BSI published variant/listings reference a longer BSI-format document (page counts reported up to ~20 pages depending on publisher format).

Key bibliographic and publication details above are based on the ISO bibliographic entry and BSI/standards catalogue records.

Scope

The standard applies to the detection and enumeration of intestinal enterococci in water by membrane filtration. It is intended particularly for waters where low numbers of enterococci are expected or where large sample volumes are analysed (for example bathing waters, surface waters, treated waters and some drinking or pool waters), but it may be applied to most water types except those with very high suspended solids or interfering microflora that prevent reliable membrane filtration. The procedure covers apparatus, culture media and reagents, sampling and sample handling, test procedure, quality assurance, expression of results and test reporting.

Key topics and requirements

• Principle: filtration through a 0.45 µm membrane, incubation on selective Slanetz and Bartley medium (TTC indicator) to produce presumptive colonies, and confirmation on bile‑aesculin‑azide agar (aesculin hydrolysis / blackening) to identify intestinal enterococci.
• Incubation conditions: defined primary incubation temperatures and times (typical primary incubation around 36 °C ±2 °C for ~44 h ±4 h, with specified confirmation steps at elevated temperature), plus resuscitation steps where applicable.
• Sampling and sample handling: guidance to begin examination within specified timeframes and temperatures (follow ISO sampling guidance); storage and transport conditions to reduce loss or overgrowth of target organisms.
• Media and reagents: use of Slanetz and Bartley (with TTC) for presumptive counts and bile‑aesculin‑azide agar for confirmation; requirements for media preparation, controls and indicator reactions.
• Quality assurance and performance checks: procedural controls, membrane quality verification and laboratory QA/QC procedures per general microbiological standards (including reference to ISO guidance on enumeration and membrane filter evaluation).
• Expression of results and reporting: calculation of colony counts per 100 mL (or other volumes), reporting of confirmed enterococci, and inclusion of method details and limits in test reports.

Technical specifics and procedural limits are described in the full standard text.

Typical use and users

Environmental and public health laboratories, water quality and compliance testing laboratories, agencies monitoring recreational/bathing waters and wastewater treatment performance, consultants and industrial laboratories conducting microbiological monitoring of treated waters, pools and distribution systems. The method is used where culture‑based enumeration of intestinal enterococci is required for regulatory compliance, risk assessment or routine surveillance.

Related standards

Commonly referenced and related documents include ISO 7704 (evaluation of membrane filters used for microbiological analyses), the ISO 5667 series (sampling of water), ISO 8199 (general guidance on enumeration of microorganisms by culture), and national/European methods for microbiological analysis of waters. The BS adoption page and product listings note that BS 6068-4.4:2000 is identical to ISO 7899-2:2000 / EN ISO 7899-2:2000.

Keywords

intestinal enterococci, Enterococcus, membrane filtration, Slanetz and Bartley, bile‑aesculin‑azide agar, TTC, water quality, microbiological enumeration, bathing water monitoring, BS 6068, EN ISO 7899-2, ISO 7899-2.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: It is ISO 7899-2:2000 — a standardized membrane filtration method for the detection, enumeration and confirmation of intestinal enterococci in water; adopted as BS EN ISO 7899-2:2000 and published in the UK as BS 6068-4.4:2000.

Q: What does it cover?

A: The method covers sampling considerations, membrane filtration technique, selective media (Slanetz & Bartley and bile‑aesculin‑azide), incubation and confirmation procedures, quality assurance and reporting of results for intestinal enterococci in various water types.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Microbiology and environmental laboratories performing regulatory or routine monitoring of bathing, surface, treated and other waters where enterococci enumeration is needed for public-health assessments or compliance testing.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 7899-2:2000 is the 2000 edition of the ISO method; it has been adopted as a British Standard (BS EN ISO 7899-2 and BS 6068-4.4:2000). The ISO bibliographic entry shows the 2000 edition and records periodic confirmation reviews (the ISO record indicates review/confirmation activity); BSI records note the BS adoption and review/confirmation activity (including a review noted in 2008). Users should check national catalogues or the issuing body for the absolute current status before relying on the method for regulatory purposes.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — ISO 7899 comprises multiple parts: Part 1 (enrichment/multiple tube/enzymatic methods) and Part 2 (membrane filtration). It is also linked to broader ISO series on water sampling and microbiological enumeration (for example ISO 5667 and ISO 8199).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: intestinal enterococci, Enterococcus spp., membrane filtration, Slanetz and Bartley, bile‑aesculin, TTC, water quality, bathing water monitoring, microbiological methods.