Optimisation of ISO 10705-1 on enumeration of F-specific bacteriophages.

During the European project 'Bacteriophages in bathing waters' (January 1996-June 1999), research was carried out to optimise the method for detection and enumeration of F-specific (RNA) phages in water. It was evaluated whether further optimisation would be possible/needed for the procedure as described in the standard method of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 10705-1. The research focused mainly on optimisation of the different steps for culturing the host strain WG49 Salmonella Typhimurium. It was concluded that all steps described in ISO 10705-1 are necessary and, if followed carefully, using a culture of host strain WG49 Salmonella Typhimurium of good quality, reliable results could be obtained for the enumeration of F-specific RNA phages.