1999 Volume 4 Issue 2 Pages 87-90
The colony hybridization (CH) method as a rapid method for detecting Legionellaspp. was compared with the conventional culture method. In the comparison of colony count in which a suspension ofL. pneumophila was examined, a positive correlation was shown between the results by both methods. The regression line was Y=0.85+1.34Xand the correlation coefficient was 0.95. The maximum number of detectable colonies on the plate was 144 colony forming units, although there was a tendency for the CH data to give slightly lower counts than those of the culture method. The detection time in the CH method was half of that in the culture method, and the final result was obtained within 4 or 5 d. In addition the results by the CH method were rarely influenced by other contaminating microorganisms, since the transfer of colonies was performed at the initial stage of culture.
