coliform

1. not comparableOf or pertaining to the bacteria that inhabit the intestines (especially the colon) of mammals.

plural coliforms

1. Such a bacterium.

   By contrast, nonaerogenic coliforms in human feces were only 2.5 per cent of the total coliform strains examined

   1969 May 20, Edwin E Geldreich, “Applying bacteriological parameters to recreational water quality”, in Journal‐American Water Works Association

   2 more examples

   Differential biochemical or physiological characteristics which correlate with aerogenesis at elevated incubation temperatures will be adapted towards a fecal coliform procedure and towards converting a total coliform procedure under development to give a fecal coliform count as well.

   1973, Water Resources Research Catalog - Volume 8, Issue 1, page 732

   The three water samples for total coliform bacteria were 57,000 CFUs, 43,000 CFUs and 45,000 CFUs. (Colony-forming units, or CFUs, estimate the number of bacteria or fungal cells that have the ability to multiply in a sample.)

   2017 September 1, Susan Scutti, “Sewage, fecal bacteria in Hurricane Harvey floodwaters”, in CNN