Food & Water Microbiology
Pathogen detection and indicator counts for food, water and beverages by IS / ISO methods.
About Food & Water Microbiology
Microbiology is where food and water safety is ultimately proven, because chemistry cannot tell you whether a pathogen is present. CVR Labs runs the full food and water microbiology suite under NABL accreditation — total plate count, yeast and mould, coliforms and E. coli as indicators, and Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio and Clostridium as pathogens — using validated IS and ISO culture and detection methods.
We match the organism panel to the matrix and the standard: FSSAI microbiological criteria for a given food, IS 10500 or IS 14543 for water. Membrane filtration, selective enrichment and confirmation give results that support FSSAI compliance, HACCP verification, shelf-life claims and release of each batch.
Signature tests under Food & Water Microbiology
The checks clients most often ask for with this service — we build the right sub-panel around your product and standard.
What we analyse under Food & Water Microbiology
The parameter groups below are drawn from this service's own accredited scope; the full searchable list follows.
Pathogens are invisible to chemistry
Only microbiology confirms whether Salmonella, Listeria or E. coli is present — the decisive safety question for food and water.
Indicators reveal hygiene
Total plate count, coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae expose process and handling failures before a pathogen ever appears.
Criteria are matrix-specific
FSSAI sets different microbiological limits for each food, and IS standards for water — the panel must match the product.
Indicator organisms
Pathogens
Food & Water Microbiology — parameters & methods
| Parameter / Test | Method / Standard |
|---|---|
| Bacillus cereus | IS 5887 (Part 6)ISO 7932 |
| Clostridium perfringens | IS 5887 (Part 4) |
| Coliforms | IS 5401 (Part 1)ISO 4832IS 5401 (Part 2) |
| E.coli | IS 5887 (Part 1) |
| Enterobacteriaceae | ISO 21528-2ISO 21528-1 |
| Listeria monocytogenes | IS 14988 (Part 1)ISO 11290-1 |
| Salmonella spp. | IS 5887 (Part 3/Sec 1)ISO 6579-1 |
| Shigella spp. | IS 5887 (Part 7) |
| Staphylococcus aureus | IS 5887 (Part 2)IS 5887 (Part 8/Sec 1)ISO 6888-1 |
| Total Plate Count | IS 5402 (Part 1)ISO 4833-1IS 1622 |
| Vibrio cholerae | IS 5887 (Part 5/Sec 1)IS 5887 (Part 5)ISO 21872-1 |
| Vibrio parahaemolyticus | IS 5887 (Part 5/Sec 1)IS 5887 (Part 5)ISO 21872-1 |
| Yeast and Moulds | IS 5403 |
| Incubation of Cans / Can sterility test | APHA 5th Edition Chapter 61 |
| Sulphite reducing clostridia | ISO 15213 |
| Escherichia coli | IS 1622IS 15185 |
| Standard Plate Count/Aerobic Plate Count /Total Plate Count | IS 1622 |
| Total Coliforms | IS 1622IS 15185 |
| Faecal Coliforms | IS 1622 |
| Faecal streptococci | IS 1622IS 15186 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | IS 13428 Annex D |
| Aerobic Microbial Count/Total viable colony count at 20- 22°C/ml in 72 hours | IS 5402 (Part 1) |
| Aerobic Microbial Count/Total viable colony count at 37°C/ml in 24 hours | IS 5402 (Part 1) |
| Coliform | IS 15185 |
| Salmonella spp | IS 15187 |
| Sulphite reducing anaerobes | IS 13428 Annex C |
| Yeast and Mould | IS 16069 (PART 1) |
| Legionella spp | ISO 11731 |
| Standard Plate Count | IS 3328 |
How Food & Water Microbiology is tested
Reference methods applied
Where more than one standard applies, the appropriate method is selected for each sample and regulatory requirement, based on validated IS and ISO culture, membrane-filtration and detection methods within our NABL scope.
Accreditations covering Food & Water Microbiology
See the Accreditations & Scope page for full certificate details.
Samples we accept for Food & Water Microbiology
From enquiry to accredited report
Request a Quote
Share product, parameters and target standard.
Send Sample
Submit in sealed, labelled packaging or arrange pickup.
Login & Prep
Logged in LIMS with unique IDs and prepared.
Accredited Analysis
Validated NABL-scope methods on advanced instruments.
Test Report
Traceable, accredited report with limit comparison.
Food & Water Microbiology — frequently asked questions
Is Food & Water Microbiology NABL-accredited at CVR Labs?
Which organisms do you test for?
How should microbiology samples be handled?
Can you support FSSAI and HACCP compliance?
What samples do you accept for Food & Water Microbiology?
What parameters are included in Food & Water Microbiology?
Ready to test with an accredited laboratory?
NABL ISO/IEC 17025:2017 · ISO 9001 · ISO 45001 · CPCB · BIS — trusted since 1999.