Taking and transporting water samples for microbiological investigations

7 Taking and transporting water samples for microbiological investigations 

Secondary infection or technical errors in sampling can falsify the accuracy of the entire micro-biological investigation it is therefore of 

As a rule, sterile glass-stoppered bottles with a capacity of 250 to 500 ml are used for sampling. These are sterilized in the laboratory and safeguarded against secondary infection with aluminium foil. Bottles used for sampling chlorinated water must be treated with sodium thiosulfate before sterilization. A 250 ml bottle should be charged with 0.25 ml of a solution of 0.01 m sodium thiosulfate and a 500 ml bottle with 0.5 ml of the same solution in order to bind immediately any chlorine or chloramine which may 

The sampler should first convince himself at the sampling location of the 

Water can be taken from dug wells and water containers with the aid of a sterile sampling advice. The sample should be taken from approximately 30 cm below the surface of the water. If no sampling device is available, a sample can be taken by immersing the sample bottle in the water with the aid of sterilized crucible tongs and slowly moving the bottle through the 

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