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)CVR/MB/SOP/17APHA 24th Edition 9221 F |
| Enterobacteriaceae | ISO 21528-2ISO 21528-1CVR/MB/SOP/17 |
| Listeria monocytogenes | IS 14988 (Part 1)ISO 11290-1CVR/MB/SOP/17 |
| 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 |
| Shigella spp | IS 5887 (Part 7)CVR/MB/SOP/17 |
| Incubation of Cans / Can sterility test | APHA 5th Edition Chapter 61 |
| Sulphite reducing clostridia | ISO 15213 |
| Feacal streptococci | IS 5887 (Part 2) |
| Escherichia coli | IS 1622IS 15185 |
| Standard Plate Count/Aerobic Plate Count /Total Plate Count | IS 1622 |
| Total Coliforms | IS 1622IS 15185APHA 24th Edition 9221 B |
| Faecal Coliforms | IS 1622 |
| Faecal streptococci | IS 1622IS 15186 |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | IS 13428 Annex DCVR/MB/SOP/17 |
| 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 countat 37°C/ml in 24 hours | IS 5402 (Part 1) |
| Coliform | IS 15185 |
| Salmonella spp | IS 15187CVR/MB/SOP/17 |
| 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. Validated in-house CVR SOPs on GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS and ICP-MS are part of the accredited 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.