Coliphages

What are Coliphages​

Coliphages are a group of bacteriophages that infect and replicate within coliform bacteria. Male-specific coliphages infect only the E. coli bacteria that express certain physical appendages used during sexual conjugation (pili). Somatic coliphages adsorb directly into the E. coli cell wall. Both male-specific and somatic coliphages are used as surrogates to indicate the presence of fecal material and viral pathogens in water.

They are excellent candidates to determine log removal by treatment process, such as wastewater treated by UV, ozone, chlorine, and filtration. They have been suggested to be an alternative to human enteric virus testing for biosolids since they provide more useful outcomes with quicker results and are inexpensive to test for in relation to enteric viruses. Coliphages are detected using either a presence-absence assay (EPA method 1601) or an enumerative assay (EPA method 1602).

Testing Services

Coliphage GroupMethodSample VolumeSample Matrix
Male-specific coliphagesEPA 1601100 ml /100 gSW DW WW   BS*
Somatic coliphages EPA 1601100 ml /100 gSW DW WW   BS
Male-specific coliphagesEPA 1602100ˆ-1000 mlSW DWˆ WW
Somatic coliphages EPA 1602100ˆ-1000 mlSW DWˆ WW
Male-specific coliphagesEPA 160210-100L** SW DW WW
Somatic coliphagesEPA 160210-100LSW DW WW

* SW-surface water
    DW-drinking water
    WW-wastewater
    BS-biosolid
** including 5” positively charged capsule filter

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