Patent ID: 8741595

Claim:
A process for detecting the presence of at least one coliform strain comprising (a) providing at least one sample suspected of comprising at least one coliform strain; (b) providing at least one culture device comprising at least one culture medium that is hydrated or hydratable; (c) providing at least one particulate concentration agent that is substantially optically transparent when in contact with said culture medium in said culture device when said culture medium is hydrated, wherein said particulate concentration agent is amorphous, spheroidized magnesium silicate; (d) placing said particulate concentration agent in contact with said sample such that at least a portion of said coliform strain is bound to or captured by said particulate concentration agent to form coliform-bound particulate concentration agent; (e) placing said coliform-bound particulate concentration agent in contact with said culture medium of said culture device; (f) incubating said culture device comprising said coliform-bound particulate concentration agent in contact with said culture medium, said culture medium being hydrated; and (g) optically detecting the presence of said coliform strain without separating said coliform strain from said particulate concentration agent.