Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs — Horizontal method for the enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species) — Part 3: Detection and MPN technique for low numbers

ISO 6888-3:2003 specifies a horizontal method for the enumeration and detection of coagulase-positive staphylococci, using the most probable number (MPN) technique. It is applicable to

• products intended for human consumption and the feeding of animals, and
• environmental samples in the area of food production and food handling.

This method is recommended for products where staphylococci are expected to be stressed and in low numbers as, for example, in dried products. Coagulase-positive staphylococci will primarily be Staphylococcus aureus but Staphylococcus intermedius and some strains of Staphylococcus hyicus also produce coagulase.