ISO 16266-2006 PDF

Full title and description

Water quality — Detection and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa — Method by membrane filtration. Specifies a membrane‑filtration method for isolating and counting Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bottled water and other waters with low background flora (for example pool waters and waters intended for human consumption).

Abstract

ISO 16266:2006 describes a standardized laboratory procedure using membrane filtration and selective culture conditions to detect and enumerate Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water samples. The method is intended principally for bottled and other low‑background waters but can be applied to similar matrices where background flora are limited.

General information

• Status: Published (International Standard; confirmed in ISO systematic reviews).
• Publication date: April 2006 (Edition 1, 2006‑04).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.060.70 (Examination of biological properties of water / microbiology of water).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2006).
• Number of pages: 12 (as published by ISO).

Scope

This standard specifies a membrane filtration protocol for the isolation and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bottled water and other waters with a low background flora. It defines sample handling, filtration volumes, culture medium and incubation conditions, colony identification criteria, and calculation/reporting of results for routine water quality testing.

Key topics and requirements

• Membrane filtration technique and recommended filter pore size for recovery of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
• Specified selective/differential culture medium and incubation temperature/time to promote P. aeruginosa growth and suppress background flora.
• Colony morphology and biochemical/phenotypic criteria for presumptive identification and confirmation.
• Guidance on sample volume selection, quality controls, blanks and interpretation of counts (CFU per volume).
• Recommendations for reporting results and limitations of the method (e.g., unsuitable for waters with heavy background flora).

Typical use and users

Used by water testing laboratories, public health authorities, bottled‑water producers, pool and recreational water monitoring programs, environmental microbiologists and quality assurance personnel who require a validated method to detect and enumerate Pseudomonas aeruginosa in low‑background water matrices.

Related standards

Closely related ISO methods for bacterial indicators in water include ISO 9308‑1 (enumeration of Escherichia coli and coliforms by membrane filtration) and ISO 7899‑2 (detection and enumeration of intestinal enterococci by membrane filtration); all are produced under ISO/TC 147/SC 4 (microbiology of water). National and regional adoptions (EN/ISO, SS‑EN, UNE‑EN) also exist.

Keywords

Pseudomonas aeruginosa; membrane filtration; water quality; bottled water; microbiology; enumeration; ISO 16266; selective culture; water testing.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 16266:2006 is an international standard that specifies a membrane‑filtration method for the detection and enumeration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in bottled water and other low‑background waters.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sample handling, filtration procedures, recommended culture media and incubation conditions, identification criteria for presumptive P. aeruginosa colonies, calculations and reporting of colony counts, and method limitations.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Accredited and routine water testing laboratories, public health agencies, bottled‑water manufacturers, environmental microbiologists and regulators monitoring pools, drinking water and other low‑background water supplies.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO 16266 was published in April 2006 (Edition 1). According to ISO lifecycle records, this edition has been reviewed and confirmed in subsequent systematic reviews (confirmed as current in ISO reviews including 2021). Users should check national adoption documents for any regional amendments.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It forms part of ISO/TC 147/SC 4’s family of methods for microbiological examination of water (membrane filtration methods for various bacterial indicators), alongside standards such as ISO 9308‑1 and ISO 7899‑2 and their regional adoptions (EN/ISO).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, membrane filtration, water quality, bottled water, microbiology, enumeration, selective medium, ISO 16266.