There is a process to collect, transport in cooler, dilute with buffered filter water, filter, grow colonies in temperature controlled incubator, count colonies for test in one day described in Standard Methods for Analysis of Water and Wastewater. If you have limited number samples, far cheaper to have certified lab conduct test. If willing to help around lab or become trained to conduct testing, they might do for free or even lead to some paid work. There are many types of total, fecal and E. coli coliform. Many are not harmful, but indicative of pollution. Since you mentioned FINAL concentration, suggests you might be treating contaminated or unknown content of water in some way, and checking to see if E. coli are present. But any water system, groundwater or surface water source has potential to change with time, so a final concentration may not be obtainable.
Dear Ajay,
A variety of tetrazolium compounds like MTT have been used to detect viable cells in the samples. This chemical not targeting only E coli but also all viable cells. According to the color intensity of MTT to formazan product, can be use full to get idea about concentration of viable bacteria in water. According to my knowledge MTT not applicable to detect E coli in water samples since water content other environmental bacteria also.
Ajay,
Are you saying that you mean to use an MTT assay to determine the concentration of EColi in a water sample?
First, an MTT assay gives you data that is a 'mass average.' You can't use it to determine cell concentration. You might 'estimate' the concentration but it would be just that.
Do you have access to a flow cytometer? Why not fluorescently label the Ecoli (it's easy), fix them, and put them through a flow cytometer. You can get the exact count rather than an estimation...
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