Brihanmumbai Mahanagarpalika G/North Municipal Laboratory

Microbiology Lab:

• 
  The Microbiological Laboratory officially known as "Bacteriological Section” with about 1800 square feet is well segregated as per microbiological testing activities.
  
  Laboratory is equipped with high grade, well maintained and calibrated testing equipment including Autoclave, Incubators, Biosafety Cabinets, Pass box, Manifold Membrane Filtration System etc.
  
  Analysis is carried out by experienced, skilled and devoted team of Qualified Microbiologist. The testing work is carried using standard methods in controlled environmental conditions, maintaining aseptic condition and following quality control procedures to ensure validity of the results.It is ensured that proper Documentation and Record of all monitoring and testing activities are maintained.
  

Major Work Highlights of Microbiological testing: -

A) Inhouse water samples of BMC.

• BMC Drinking Water Quality Surveillance from distribution system: The laboratory is renowned for its work of testing drinking water samples collected for Water Quality Surveillance of the drinking water supplied across Mumbai through the distribution system. In order to safeguard community health as per the World health organization (WHO) guidelines the Water Quality Surveillance is undertaken by the Public Health Department of BMC to verify that safe drinking water is supplied till the consumer end. For this purpose, the drinking water samples jointly collected by the staff of Public Health Department and the Hydraulic Engineering (HE) are sent to the laboratory for routine bacteriological testing as per IS 10500. Daily around 150-180 water samples tested in the laboratory sent by Medical Officer of Health (MOH), Assistant Engineer Water Works (AEWW) and Assistant Engineer Quality Control (AEQC) of 24 wards of Mumbai. The water samples are tested as per the method IS 15185 using Membrane Filtration Technique and Chromogenic culture media which detects the water quality indicator bacteria Total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli bacteria. The confirm results are obtained within 18 -24 hours enables to take quick remedial measure on unsafe water sample location..
• Testing of water samples collected from Hawkers: In year 2015 special drive was undertaken as per the directives of Hon. Municipal Commissioner by Public Health Department to prevent water borne diseases. For which daily around 50 -70 water samples were collected from hawkers and street food vendors by staff of Medical Officer of Health (MOH) of 24 wards and sent for testing. The laboratory tested the water samples as per IS 10500 and released the reports after 24 hrs. for taking further action on unsafe samples.
• Testing of Ice samples: In year 2016 special drive was undertaken as per the directives of Hon. Municipal Commissioner by Public Health Department to prevent water borne diseases. For which daily around 50 -70 Ice samples were collected from hawkers, Juice Center, street food vendors, ice vendors and ice factory by staff of Medical Officer of Health (MOH) of 24 wards and sent for testing. The laboratory tested the Ice samples as per IS 10500 and released the reports after 24 hrs. for taking further action on unsafe samples. The laboratory tested around 20,000 ice samples, a consolidated report was submitted to FSSAI, considering this a notification was released to distinguish non-edible ice by coloring it blue by using Indigo Carmine or Brilliant Blue up to 10ppm.
• Testing of Drinking Water samples of BMC: The laboratory test the drinking water samples collected from BMC Hospitals Maternity Homes, cemetery and swimming pool under special Drive of Public Health Department. The laboratory test water samples sent by various other department of BMC like Zoo, gardens, Ward office and other Office. During Festivals testing of tanker and lakes or well water is done.

B) External samples:

• The laboratory test Food and water samples for submitted by general public or customer, Regulatory samples under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006.submited by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Central Railway, Western Railway and Kokan Railway, Police station, Central and State and Government Office etc. for testing compliance with the standards prescribed in Food Safety & Standards Regulation and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)
• The laboratory also test the water samples collected under various projects related to Surveillance like testing water samples from BMC Hospitals and Maternity Homes, wells, lake, tanker, cemetery or swimming pool etc.

The microbiological analysis of food sample is done as per the following table -

Food Commodity
Dairy Products and Analogues Fruit &Vegetable products, Cereals and Cereal Products, Meat and Meat Products, Fish and Fish Products, Ice Lollies or Edible ice, Salt, Spices, Condiments and related products, Beverages (Other than Dairy and Fruit &vegetable based), Proprietary Food, Alcoholic Beverages and any other food products.

Test as Per FSSR,2011 APPENDIX -B
	Name	Testing Standard
A	Hygiene Indicator Organisms
1	Aerobic Plate Count	IS 5402
2	Coliform	IS 5401-Part-1
3	Staphylococcus aureus (Coagulase positive)	IS 5887-Part-2; IS 5887-Part-8-Sec-1; IS 5887-Part-8-Sec-2
4	Yeast and Mould	IS 5403
5	E. coli	IS 5887-Part-1
6	Enterobacteriaceae	IS 17112 (Part 1 &2)
B	Food Safety Criteria
1	Salmonella spp	IS5887-Part-3
2	Listeria monocytogens	IS 14988-Part-1
3	Bacillus cereus	IS 5887-Part-6
4	Sulphite Reducing Clostridia	ISO 15213
5	Shigella spp	IS 5887-Part-7
6	Vibrio cholera and Vibrio parahaemolyticus	IS 5887 (Part5)
7	Faecal streptococci	IS 15186:2018;IS 5887(Part 2)
8	Pseudomonas aeruginosa	IS 13428:2018 (Annex-D)
9	Camphylobacter	ISO 10272 (1 &2)
10	Enterobacter sakazaki (Cronobacter Spp)	ISO/TS 22964
11	Commercial Sterility	IS 4884
12	Commercial Sterility	IS 4238
13	Accelerated Storage Test	IS 1166