Varchita Chetan, Drashti Bamaniya and Sarita Sharma*

Department of Life and Health Science - Microbiology, IISHLS, Indus University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

*Corresponding Author: Sarita Sharma, Department of Life and Health Science - Microbiology, IISHLS, Indus University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.

Received: April 13, 2026; Published: May 31, 2026

Abstract

Safe drinking water is essential for public health, yet microbial contamination remains a significant challenge, particularly in developing countries such as India. This review critically evaluates microbial pathogen detection methods used to assess drinking water quality in the context of Indian standards and global regulatory frameworks. Key indicator organisms and pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio choleraee, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are discussed in relation to their health impacts and role in water quality monitoring. The review compares conventional culture-based techniques such as membrane filtration, multiple tube fermentation, and heterotrophic plate count with modern rapid detection methods including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR (qPCR), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), biosensors, microfluidics, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). Conventional methods remain widely used due to their reliability and cost-effectiveness but are limited by long processing times and inability to detect viable but non-culturable organisms. In contrast, rapid methods offer high sensitivity, specificity, and faster results, though their application is constrained by cost, technical complexity, and infrastructure requirements. The review also examines the regulatory roles of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), highlighting alignment with World Health Organization (WHO) and ISO guidelines. It concludes that integrating conventional and modern techniques provides a more robust and efficient approach to microbial detection. Emerging technologies, including portable diagnostic tools and real-time monitoring systems, are expected to further enhance water quality surveillance and public health protection.

Keywords: Microbial Detection; Drinking Water Quality; BIS Standards; FSSAI Regulations; ISO/IEC 17025

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Citation

Citation: Sarita Sharma.,et al. “Evaluation of Microbiological Pathogen Detection Methods as Per Indian Standards in Drinking Water". Acta Scientific Microbiology 9.6 (2026): 23-39.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Sarita Sharma.,et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.