UGANDA STANDARD
 
   US EAS 96
Second Edition
   2009-09-04
 
Reference numbe r
    US EAS 96:2008
 © UNBS 2009
  
Sanitary towels — Specification 
 US EAS 96:2008 
 
© UNBS  2009 – All rights reserved ii Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations 
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2009 
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, in cluding photocopying and microfilm, without prior written 
permission from UNBS. 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to 
The Executive Director 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
P.O. Box 6329 
Kampala  
Uganda 
Tel: 256 41 505 995 
Fax: 256 41 286 123 
E-mail: unbs@infocom.co.ug
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  
       US EAS 96:2008  
© UNBS  2009 - All rights rese rved                iii National foreword 
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry  of Tourism, Trade and 
Industry established under Cap 327, of the Laws of U ganda. UNBS is mandated to co-ordinate the elaboration 
of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex A limentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT/SPS Agr eements of the World Trade Organisation (WTO). 
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a gi ven field or area and consists of representatives of 
consumers, traders, academician s, manufacturers, governme nt and other stakeholders. 
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committ ee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council. 
This Uganda Standard, US EAS 96 Sanitary towels — Specification,  is identical with and has been
reproduced from an Ea st African Standard, EAS 96 Sanitary towels — Specification, and has been  
adopted as a Uganda Standard.  
Wherever the words, "East African Standard" appea r, they should be replaced by "Uganda Standard." 
Committee membership 
― Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo 
― Ministry of Touris m, Trade and Industry 
― Ministry of Health 
― Anik Industries 
― Uganda Government Chemist 
― Translink (U) Ltd. Johnson and Johnson 
― Procter and Gamble EA Ltd 
― Southern Range Nytil 
― Uganda Cotton Products Limited 
― Uganda Revenue Authority 
― Phoenix Uganda Limited 
― African Textile Mills 
 EAS 96:2008 
ICS 59.080.30  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
 
Sanitary towels— Specification 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY  
 
© EAC 2007 Second Edition 2008 EAS 96:2008  
 
Foreword 
 
Development of the East African Standards ha s been necessitated by the need for harmonizing 
requirements governing quality of products and services in East Africa. It is envisaged that through 
harmonized standardization, trade barriers which are encountered when goods and services are 
exchanged within the Comm unity will be removed.  
 
In order to achieve this objective, the Partner St ates in the Community through their National Bureaux 
of Standards, have established an East  African Standards Committee.  
The Committee is composed of representatives of the National Standards Bodies in Partner States, 
together with the representatives from the private sectors and cons umer organizations. Draft East 
African Standards are circulated to stakeholders th rough the National Standards Bodies in the Partner 
States. The comments received are discussed and in corporated before finalization of standards, in 
accordance with the procedures of the Community.  
East African Standards are subject to review, to keep  pace with technological advances. Users of the 
East African Standards are therefore expected to ensure that they  always have the latest versions of 
the standards they are implementing.  
 
© East African Community 2008 — All rights reserved*
East African Community  
P O Box 1096  
Arusha  
Tanzania  
Tel: 255 27 2504253/8 
Fax: 255-27-2504481/2504255 
E-Mail: eac@eachq.org
Web: www.each.org 
 
                                                 
* © 2000 EAC — All rights of exploitation in any form and by an y means reserved worldwide for EAC Partner States’ NSBs.  
 
ii © EAC 2008 — All rights reserved EAS 96:2008  EAST AFRICAN STANDARD 
 
Sanitary towels— Specification 
 
 
1 Scope 
This East African Standard specifies the requirements and test methods for sanitary 
towels.  This standard does not apply to serviette s, refreshing towels and napkins, 
and panty liners.  
 
 
2 Normative references 
The following referenced documents are indi spensable for the application of this 
East African Standard. For dated referenc es, only the edition cited applies. For 
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any 
amendments) applies. 
 
EAS 217-1, Methods for the microbiological examination of  foods — Part 1: General procedures and 
technique 
EAS 217-5:2001,  Methods for the microbiological examination of foods — Part 5: Enumeration of 
coagulase-positive staphylococci in foods  
EAS 240, Conditions for the testing of textiles 
EAS 261, Method for determination of pH value of aqueous extracts of textile materials  
3 Definitions 
 
For the purposes of this Uganda standard, the following definitions shall apply. 
3.1  
sanitary towel 
hygienic composite product with a porous outer covering and highly absorbent filler 
NOTE Also called “Sanitary pads/Sanitary napkins”. 
3.2 
package 
smallest unit of sanitary towels as declared by a manufacturer that can be purchased by a consumer  
3.3 
bale or shipper 
container of at least two packages of sanitary towels as declared by a manufacturer 
4 Description 
Sanitary towels shall be described in a ccordance to their absorbance capacity. 
4.1. Regular / normal for normal flow and 
4.2. Super for heavy flow  
 
5. Requirements  
5.1 General Requirements 
Sanitary towels shall be manufactured, st ored and packed under hygienic conditions to 
minimise contamination of the product. 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved  1 EAS 96:2008  
5.2 Materials 
5.2.1 Absorbent filler  
The absorbent filler shall be free from any water soluble coloring matter when tested in accordance 
with Annex A.  It shall not contain extraneo us materials, which are not designed to enhance 
performance. 
5.2.2 Covering  
The absorbent filler covering shall be m ade of good quality fabric with sufficient 
porosity to permit the assembled towe l to meet absorbency requirement.  
 
5.2.3 Protective barrier  
The protective barrier shall be water-resistant (no wetting of outer surface and no 
water penetration) when tested in  accordance with Annex B.  
 
5.3 Workmanship and finish  
5.3.1 Absorbent filler  
 
5.3.1.1  During manufacture, the absorbent filler shall be arranged and cut to 
the required size according to design.  
5.3.1.2  When visually examined, it shall be fr ee from wrinkles and lumps not deigned 
to enhance performance 
5.3.1.3  Absorbent filler shall be completely covered in such a manner to prevent 
unwrapping during usage 
 
5.3.2 Securing mechanism  
Any of the following may be used: 
a) loops or tabs that shall extend bey ond the length of the filler material;  
b) adhesive strip or patch; 
c) wings with adhesive having sufficient length to form folds around the panty or brief for 
securing the sanitary towel when in use.  
5.3.3 Protective barrier  
The sanitary towel shall have a protective barrier on one side; if not clear, they shall 
have an identifying mark or colour indica ting clearly the side of the barrier.  
 
5.3.4 Freedom from defects  
The sanitary towel when visually examined shall be free from defects , which affect 
the appearance and utility such as oil stains, dirt or soil particles, and hard lumps. 
 
5.3.5 Odour 
The sanitary towel shall have no unpleasant  odour either in dry state immediately 
after sampling from the packages or afte r wetting the sample with distilled water.  
 
5.3.6 Texture  
The sanitary towels shall be smooth and soft when felt by hand. 
2 © EAC 2008 — All rights reserved EAS 96:2008  
5.4 Quality requirements 
The sanitary towel shall comply with the requirements given in Table 1.  
Table 1 — Quality requirements for sanitary towels 
Characteristics Requirement Test method 
Absorbency capacity (mL) min. No leakage Annex C 
pH value 5.5 – 8.5 EAS 261, Method Ba)
Moisture content of filler material (%) max. 8 Annex D 
Water soluble extract of filler material (%) max. 1.0 Annex E 
a) In case a jelly forms, dilu te with more distilled water before determining the pH. 
 
5.5 Microbiological requirements  
 
The microbiological limits shall be as defined below; 
a) the total viable bacterial count, when determined in accordance with F.4 a) shall not 
exceed 1000 per sanitary towel;  
b) when tested in accordance with F.4 b), c) and d), sanitary towels shall be free from 
Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
respectively. 
 
6 Packaging  
 
6.1 Package 
Sanitary towels shall be supplied in pack ages made of suitable materials which are 
sealed so as to protect t hem from moisture, soiling and contamination during storage 
and transportation. 
 
6.2 Bale or shipper 
Packages shall be supplied in  bales made of suitable ma terials that are strong 
enough to hold the number of declared pack ages. The bale shall withstand pressure 
during transportation and stockpile during st orage. It shall be properly sealed to 
prevent the packages spilling. Only packages bearing the same date of manufacture 
(or batch identification) and containing t he same type shall be packed together in a 
bale.  
 
7 Marking  
7.1 Packages  
The following information shall appear legi bly and indelibly on the outside of each 
package:  
(a) the manufacturer’s / importers name , phy sical address and/or registered trademark; 
(b) the words "Sanitary towels/napkins/pad 
(c) description as per clause 3.1 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved  3 EAS 96:2008  
(d) number of sanitary towels in a package;  
(e) batch identification number; 
(f) country or region of manufacture; 
(g) disposal instructions; and 
(h) date of manufacture/ expiry date. 
7.2 Bale 
 
The following information shall appear legibly and indelibly on the outside of each bale:  
(a) the manufacturer’s name and/or registered trademark; 
(b) the words "Sanitary towels/napkins/pads"; and 
(c) number of sanitary towels in a package; 
 
4 © EAC 2008 — All rights reserved EAS 96:2008  
Annex A 
(normative) 
 
Determination of water soluble colouring matter 
A.1 Principle 
Absorbent filler material is extracted in ethanol and then viewed for any colouring 
matter. 
A.2 Apparatus 
A.2.1 Weighing balance 
A.2.2 Narrow percolator 
A.2.3 Cylindrical glass tube 
A.3 Procedure  
Extract 10 g of absorbent filler material in 100 mL ethanol in a narrow percolator until 50 mL of the extract are obtained. 
Pour the liquid into a clean cylindrical gl ass tube at least 20 cm wide and view the 
layer on a white background. 
A.4 Test report  
Bluish or greenish shade indicates the presence of colouring substance. 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved  5 EAS 96:2008  
Annex B 
(normative) 
 
Determination of water resistance of protective barrier (Cone test 
method) 
B.1 Apparatus 
B.1.1  Funnel , metallic, glass or plastic of suffici ent size for holding the test piece 
with water 
B.1.2  Glass, container for collecting water under the glass funnel 
B.1.3  Burette , for introducing water into the test piece 
 
B.2 Test piece preparation 
Cut a square test piece of approximately 6.5 mm in length from the protective barrier and fold into a 
cone without creasing the folds (see Figure B.1). 
 
 First Fold 
Second Fold or Second 
Fold 
 
Figure B.1 — Folding of specimens. 
 
 
6 © EAC 2008 — All rights reserved EAS 96:2008  
 
 
Water 
Clamp 
Stand 
Bench 
Figure B.2 — Test apparatus 
B.3 Procedure 
Assemble the apparatus as shown in Figure B.2. 
Pour slowly approximately 5 mL of distilled water into the cone assembly. Let it stand 
for 24 h. 
B.4 Test report   
Observe for water in the glass container and wetness of the out er surface of the 
cone. 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved  7 EAS 96:2008  
Annex C 
(normative) 
 
Method for determination of absorbency capacity 
C.1 Apparatus  
C.1.1 Flat level surface 
C.1.2 Burette 
C.1.3 Metallic block, of mass 1 kg and dimensions 150 mm x 50 mm x 15 mm 
C.2 Reagents 
1 % solution of potassium dichromate made by dissolving 1 g K 2Cr2O7 in 100 mL 
distilled water 
C.3 Procedure  
C.3.1 Lay the sanitary towels on a flat level surface. 
C.3.2 Drip at the rate of 15 mL per min, 30 mL of the fluid (see C.2) on to the centre of sanitary 
towel from a height of approximately 2 mm. 
C.3.3 After the towel has absorbed the full amount of fluid, place a metallic block of mass 1 kg 
(C.1.3) for one minute on the portion where the fluid was absorbed.  
C.4 Test report 
Observe the back and sides of the s anitary towel for any leakage. 
8 © EAC 2008 — All rights reserved EAS 96:2008  
Annex D 
(normative) 
 
Determination of moisture content  
D.1 Principle 
A specimen of specified mass of filler material  of sanitary towel is dried in an oven at 
specified temperatur e and the moisture content is determined. 
D.2 Apparatus 
D.2.1  Balance , with an accuracy of 0.05 % of the weighed mass 
D.2.2 Sample container  
Waterproof when sealed, will be used for transfer of analyzed material and during weighing. 
D.2.3  Oven , well ventilated with a temperature of 102 °C to 105 °C  
D.3 Sample preparation 
D.3.1  Take a sufficient number of dry sample containers, number them and take their masses after 
they are held open for a short period of time so th at they will have the same air pressure as the 
surrounding atmosphere. Then leave them open until you take the test piece. 
D.3.2  Take 5 random pieces from the absorbent filler material of sanitary towel.  The test pieces 
shall weigh 5 g. 
D.3.3  If the surrounding atmosphere is hot and humi d, prevent water condensation on the internal 
and external surfaces of the container. 
D.3.4 Handle the test pieces gently to prevent dirt or changes in water content.  Do not touch the 
test pieces with your bare hands.  Put the test piec es in a container just after taking them and close 
the container immediately. 
D.4 Procedure 
D.4.1  Dry the test pieces in an oven with a temperature of 102 ºC to 105 °C.  Open the containers 
lid and dry the specimen inside the container. Open the container for a moment, to balance the air 
pressure inside the container with the surrounding pressure, weigh the container that holds the 
specimen again and calculate the weight of the specimen. 
D.4.2  First cycle of drying will last at least 30 min.  Return the container with the test pieces to the 
oven, for at least half the first cycles drying time.  Take the container out and take the mass with the 
test pieces inside.  Repeat the drying and weighing cy cles.  When the drying time on every cycle is at 
least half of the total previous drying cycle time s.  Continue the process until the difference between 
two consecutive masses does not exceed 0.1 % of the original mass of the specimen. 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved  9 EAS 96:2008  
D.5 Calculation 
Calculate the moisture content using the following formula and round the results up 
to the nearest 0.1 %. 
c bb aV
−−=100  
where, 
a is weight, in grams, of the container with the specimen before drying; 
b is weight, in grams, of the container with the specimen after drying; 
c is weight, in grams, of the container; and 
V is water content in weight %. 
 
10 © EAC 2008 — All rights reserved EAS 96:2008  
Annex E 
(normative) 
 
Determination of water soluble extract 
E.1 Apparatus 
E.1.1 Weighing machine, sensitive to 1 mg 
E.1.2 Conditioning chamber 
E.1.3 Beaker, of more than 200 mL capacity 
E.1.4 Measuring flask 
E.1.5 Steam bath 
E.1.6 Oven 
E.2 Procedure 
E.2.1 Weigh, approximately 12 g from the sample and expose to the standard atmosphere for 
testing textile (EAS 240). 
E.2.2 Weigh, to the nearest milligram, the conditioned test specimen.   
E.2.3 Cut the test specimen into small pieces and boil the pieces in 200 mL of distilled water in a 
beaker for half an hour.   
E.2.4 Filter into a 500 mL measuring flask.  Extract the test specimen twice again for 15 min and 
filter the aqueous extract into the same flask.  Pour the solution into a beaker and concentrate it to a 
small volume.  Then transfer it to a dish of known mass, washing the beaker with a little distilled 
water. 
E.2.5  Evaporate the contents of the dish on a steam bath and dry in an air oven at 105 °C to 110 °C. 
Cool the dish in a desiccator and weigh. Heat again at 105 °C to 110 °C in the dry oven for 30 min. 
Cool the dish in the desiccator and weigh.  
E.2.6 Repeat this process of heating, cooling and weighing until the difference in mass between two 
successive weighings is less than one milligram. 
E.3. Calculation 
Water soluble extract, % by mass = 100
0 20 1×
−−
m mm m 
where, 
m0 is the mass, in grams, of the empty dish;  
m1 is the mass, in grams, of the dish with the residue ; and 
m2 is the mass, grams, of the dish with the material taken for the test. 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved  11 EAS 96:2008  
Annex F 
(normative) 
 
Microbiological examination 
F.1 Apparatus and equipment 
Use apparatus and equipment complying with  the relevant requirements of EAS 217-
1.  
F.2 Media and reagents 
F.2.1 General 
Ensure compliance with the general requirements for the ingredients and for the 
preparation of media and reagents given in EAS 217-1. 
F.2.2 Bacteriological peptone 
Peptone        10 g 
Disodium phosphate dodecahydrate    1 g 
Sodium chloride       5 g 
Monopotassium phosphate     1.5 g  
 
Dissolve the ingredients in distilled water and ma ke up to 1 L.  Adjust the pH value to 
be 7.0 ± 0.1 after sterilization.  Dispense 300 mL volumes into flasks of capacity 500 
mL and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min. 
 
F.2.3 Plate count agar 
Agar     15 g 
Glucose     1 g 
Tryptone     5 g 
Yeast extract    2.5 g 
 
Dissolve the ingredients in distilled water, made up to 1litre, and adjust the pH value 
to 7.2 ± 0.2. Dispense 15 mL volumes into bottles and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 
°C ± 2 °C for 20 min. 
 
F.2.4 Neutral red-bile salt peptone glucose medium 
Pepton     20 g 
Glucose    10 g 
Bile salts No. 3    1.5 g 
Sodium Chloride    5 g 
Neutral red     0.03 g 
12 © EAC 2008 — All rights reserved EAS 96:2008  
Crystal violet     0.002 g 
 
Dissolve the ingredients in 400 mL of dist illed water and make up to 500 mL boiling 
to aid solution.  Adjust the pH value to 7.4 and filter to a clear solution. Dispense 10 
mL volumes into bottles each containing a Durham tube and ster ilize by auto-claving 
at 121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min.  
 
F.2.5 Fluid soybean-casein digest medium 
Pancreatic digest of casein   17 g 
Papaic digest of soybean meal  3 g 
Sodium chloride     5 g 
Dibasic potassium phosphate  2.5 g 
D e x t r o s e        2 . 5  g  
 
Dissolve the ingredients in distilled water and make up to 1 L, warming slightly to aid 
solution. Cool the solution to room tem perature and adjust the pH value to be 7.3 ± 
0.2 after sterilization. Filter to clarify (if necessary), dispense into suitable containers, 
and sterilize by autoclaving at 121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min. 
 
F.2.6 Cetrimide agar medium 
Pancreatic digest of gelatin   20 g 
Magnessium chloride    1.4 g 
Potassium sulphate    10 g 
Agar       13.6 g 
Cetyl trimethylammonium bromide  0.3 g 
(Cetrimide)  
G l y c e r i n        1 0  m L  
 
Dissolve all the solid ingredients in distilled water, make up to 1 L, and then add the  
glycerin.  Heat, agitating frequently, and boil fo r 1 min. Adjust the pH value to be 7.2 
± 0.2 after sterilization.  Dispense into su itable containers and sterilize by autoclaving 
at 121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min. 
 
F.2.7 Pseudomonas agar  medium for detection of fluorescein 
Pancreatic digest of casein     10 g 
Peptic digest of animal tissue    10 g 
Anhydrous dibasic potassi um phosphate   1.5 g 
Magnesium sulphate (MgSO 4.7H 2O)    1.5 g 
G l y c e r i n          1 0  m L  
A g a r          1 5  g  
 
Dissolve all the solid ingredients in distill ed water, make up to 1L, and then add the 
glycerin. Heat, agitating frequently, and boil for 1 min. Adjust the pH value to be 7.2 ± 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved  13 EAS 96:2008  
0.2 after sterilization. Dispense into suit able containers and sterilize by autoclaving at 
121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min. 
 
F.2.8 Pseudomonas agar  medium for detection of pyocyanin 
Pancreatic digest of casein     20 g 
Anhydrous magnesium chloride    1.4 g 
Anhydrous potassium sulphate    10 g 
A g a r          1 5  g  
G l y c e r i n          1 0  m L  
 
Dissolve all the solid ingredient s in distilled water, make up to 1 L, and then add the 
glycerin. Heat, agitating frequently, and boil for 1 min. Adjust the pH value to be 7.2 ± 
0.2 after sterilization. Dispense into suit able containers and sterilize by autoclaving at 
121 °C ± 2 °C for 20 min. 
F.3 Preparation of test suspension 
Transfer 300 mL of the sterile solution of bacteriological peptone (J.2.2) to a sterile 
wide-mouthed jar of capacity not less than 1 L and not more than 2 L. The jar shall 
have a mouth of diameter not less t han 150 mm and not more than 250 mm, and is 
fitted with a hermetically closing glass or metal-and-glass lid.  Aseptically place the 
towel under test in the solution in the jar, fi t the lid, agitate the c ontents of the jar for 
2 min and then allow the jar to stand for 10 mi n.  Repeat this agitating and standing 
procedure twice more.  Aseptically remove about 100 ml of the te st suspension for 
testing as described in J.4 below.  
F.4 Procedure 
F.4.1 Total viable bacterial count 
Into each of three sterile petri dishes aseptically pipette a 1 mL portion of the test 
suspension. To each dish add 15 mL of fres hly melted plate count agar (J.2.3) that 
has been cooled to 45 °C, and mix well. Incubate, count  and calculate the total count 
as described in EAS 217-2. 
F.4.2 Examination for the presence of Enterobacteriaceae 
Aseptically add 10 mL of the test suspension to a bottle that contains neutral red-bile 
salt peptone glucose medium (J.2.4). Inc ubate the bottle for 24 h to 36 h at 37 °C ± 
0.5°C and examine for the presence of Enterobacteriaceae  as evidenced by the 
formation of acid and gas. 
F.4.3 Examination for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus  
Use the media, reagents and procedure described in EAS 217- 5 to examine the test 
suspension (see J.3).  As a control, pipette  0.1 mL of a 1:1000 dilution of an 18 h to 
24 h culture of Staphylococcus  aureus  SATCC Sta 10 into Staphylococcus  medium 
and proceed as with the test suspension. 
14 © EAC 2008 — All rights reserved EAS 96:2008  
F.4.4 Examination for the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa 
F.4.4.1  Aseptically pipette 10 mL of the test suspension into 90 mL of fluid soybean-
casein digest medium (J.2.5) and mix well.  Incubate for 24 h at 30 °C to 35 °C. By means of 
an inoculating loop transfer a portion from the 24 h incubated sample tube of fluid soybean-
casein digest medium to the dry surface of petri dishes each containing approximately 20 mL 
of Cetrimide agar medium (J.2.6). Incubate at 30 °C to 35 °C and examine after 24h, and 
again after 48 h incubation, for suspect colonies, bearing in mind that in general greenish 
fluorescent colonies are typical of Pseudomonas aureginosa and that in its presence a gram 
stain examined microscopically will rev eal gram-negative slender rod-shaped cells. 
F.4.4.2  As a control, add 0.1 mL of a 1:1 000 dilution of an 18 h to 24 h culture of 
Pseudomonas  aeruginosa SATCC Pse 11 mL to 100 mL of fluid soybean-casein digest 
medium (J.2.5), and proceed as with the test suspension. 
F.4.4.3  If none of the colonies obtained from the test suspension conforms to the 
description given in i) above and the control culture has been satisfactorily recovered, deem 
the test sample to be free from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 
F.4.4.4  If colonies conforming to the description given in i) above are found, streak 
representative suspect colonies from the Cetrimide agar onto the surfaces of Pseudomonas 
agar medium for the detection of flourescein (J.2.7) and Pseudomonas agar  medium for the 
detection of pyocyanin (J.2.8) to obtain isolated colonies.  Cover and invert the petri dishes 
and incubate at 30 °C – 35 °C for at least three days.  Examine the streaked surfaces under 
ultraviolet light for suspect colonies, as described in Table J.1. 
Table F.1 — Description of colonies 
Medium Description of colonies 
Pseudomonas agar  for the detection of 
fluorescein Generally colourless to yellowish  
Yellowish fluorescence in ultra violet light 
Pseudomonas agar  for the detection of 
pyocyanin Generally greenish. Blue fluorescence in 
ultraviolet light 
 
If any further doubt exists as to the identity of the colonies, obtain final confirmation by inoculating the suspect colonies to the wells on commercially available diagnostic kits in 
accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 
 
 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved  15 EAS 96:2008  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© EAC 2008 — All rights reserved