Citation

Pinkwart C, Adrian W, Slemeyer A. Proc. Int. Counc. Alcohol Drugs Traffic Safety Conf. 1981; 1981: 614-621.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1981, The author(s) and the Council, Publisher International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Methods are described for the microbiological examination of preserved and unpreserved specimens from either living or dead subjects. They involve estimating the concentration of moulds, yeasts and bacteria in the specimens using direct microscopic methods and viable counting methods. Viable counting involves the use of selective and non-selective plating media and aerobic and anaerobic incubation. When significant numbers of microbes are detected representative strains are isolated and tested for their ability to utilise or produce ethanol in standard glucose - or ethanol-containing media. Further investigations include the examination and quantification of any other metabolic products the isolates may produce by use of gas liquid chromatography and isotachophoresis. The results allow the analyst to estimate whether or not the observed level of ethanol is a reliable estimate of the amount consumed. (TRRL)