3. If typical colon-like red colonies have developed upon the plate within this period, the confirmed test may be considered positive.
4. If, however, no typical colonies have developed within 24 hours, the test cannot yet be considered definitely negative, since it not infrequently happens that members of the B. coli group fail to form typical colonies on Endo’s medium or lactose-litmus-agar plates, or that the colonies develop slowly. In such case, it is always necessary to complete the test as directed under “C” 2 and 3.
C. COMPLETED TEST.
1. From the Endo’s medium or lactose-litmus-agar plate made as prescribed under “B,” fish at least two typical colonies, transferring each to an agar slant and a lactose broth fermentation tube.
2. If no typical colonies appear upon the plate within 24 hours, the plate should be reincubated another 24 hours, after which at least two of the colonies considered to be most likely B. coli, whether typical or not, shall be transferred to agar slants and lactose broth fermentation tubes.
3. The lactose broth fermentation tubes thus inoculated shall be incubated until gas formation is noted; the incubation not to exceed 48 hours. The agar slants shall be incubated at 37° C. for 48 hours, when a microscopic examination shall be made of at least one culture, selecting one which corresponds to one of the lactose broth fermentation tubes which has shown gas-formation.
The formation of gas in lactose broth and the demonstration of non-spore-forming bacilli in the agar culture shall be considered a satisfactory completed test, demonstrating the presence of a member of the B. coli group.
The absence of gas-formation in lactose broth or failure to demonstrate non-spore-forming bacilli in a gas-forming culture constitutes a negative test.