The document describes microbial limit testing methods for pharmaceutical and cosmetic materials. There are two main methods: testing for specific pathogenic microorganisms like E. coli, Salmonella species, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa and determining the total aerobic microbial count. The total aerobic microbial count method involves pre-treating samples depending on solubility, filtering through a membrane, incubating, and calculating microorganisms per unit weight or volume. Confirmation tests are described to detect specific microorganisms using selective agar media, biochemical tests, and colony characteristics.

1. Microbial limit tests I.P

2. The microbiological quality of non-sterile pharmaceutical or cosmetic material
can be controlled by using two methods

3. Pathogencity of specific Microorganisms I.P
E.coli: Enterotoxins/Diarrhoel diseases. Hence, exclude from pharmaceutical
materials.
Salmonella species: Initiate infections by ingestion/ Excluded from pharm.
materials because they represent major infection.
S.aureus: Originate on skin /Limit tests for S.aureus are most likely to be applied
to topical products.
P.aeruginosa: Pathogen infects vulnerable sites eg: eyes
opportunist/immunity/topical products/resistant to preservatives

4. Preliminary testing/Antimicrobial activity of test
sample
The methods given here are invalid if test sample show antimicrobial
activity. Hence, check inhibition effect of sample.
Test procedure:
1. 1ml of 10-3 dil of 24hrs broth culture of Mo’s in 1st dilution of test
material (in buffer pH 7.2 Medium.( Soya bean casein digest agar
medium) .If Mo’s fail to grow modified by
 Increase the volume of diluents with test material
 Incorporate inactivating agent
 Combine above for so as to permit the growth of Mo’s.

5. 0.5% of soya lectin and 4% of polysorbate are added to sample to
inactivate inhibitory substances
Repeat test as above by using fluid casein digest soya lecithin-
polysorbate 20 medium to neutralize preservatives other antimicrobial
agents
If inhibitory substances are present/Later soluble the total Aerobic
microbial count may be used
If all tests fail to inactivate the activity of test sample/ article not
contaminated with test sample/ article not contaminated with
microbial species

6. A. Total aerobic microbial count
Total viable Mo’s / unit wt OR volumes of sample is common in Mo’s
Pretreatment of sample as follows
• Water soluble products:
Dissolve 10gms or 10 ml of test sample as monograph/ buf. Nacl. Peptone
solution(pH 7.0) any other medium/ to 100ml medium.
•Non- fatty water insoluble products:
same as A + 0.1w/v of polysorbate 80 may be added to assist the suspension of poorly
wettable substances.
•Fatty products:
10gms or 10ml(as monograph + 5gms polysorbate 20 or 80, if necessary heat/40 deg in
water bath or oven.
Maintain 40 deg/ formation of emulsion of emulsion total aerobic microbial count present
in test substances determined by follows

7. 1. Transfer 10ml of diluted sample though membrane filter of
50mm diameter of 0.45µm if necessary dil. for require colony
count.
2. Wash mem.fil. With successive quantities of 100ml of buffered
Nacl. peptone broth soln./for fatty prods. Add polysorbate 80
&20.
3. Transfer one of mem.filter to SDA plate with antibiotics.
4. Incubate 30 -40oC /48hrs for bacteria and 20-25oC /5 days for
fungi.
5. Calculate No. of Mo’s/ml.

8. (ii).Total plate count
1. Mix 1ml of preheated sample +15ml of liquefied
SCD agar pour into plate at 45oC or spread on
surface.
2. Incubate plates at 37oC and 24 -25oC/ 2-3 days for
fungi.
3. Enumerate no. Mo’s/ml.

9. (iii) Most probable number (MPN)
1. Take 14 test tubes of similar size place 9 ml of sterile fluid
soyabean casein digest medium.
2. Arrange twelve of the tubes in four sets of 3 tubes each. One
among serves as control.
3. Prepare stock solution of sample and dispense 1ml into one set
each of three tubes of conc. named 100µg/ µl and into tube A and
from it to tube B.
4. Now ,where the concentrations of tube B and second set is 10 µg/
µl and set three is 1µg/ µl.
5. Close well and incubate all tubes and examine the growth
in each test tubes. The 3 tubes remain clear.
Interpret with reference table indicate MPN of MO’s per gm/ml of test sample

10. Most probable number of multiple tube or serial dilution method

11. Prescribed quantity of test sample + 50ml of nutrient broth
Shake and incubate at 370C/24 hrs
1ml enrichment culture + 5ml of Mackonkey broth
Perform primary test
Shake and incubate at 370C for 48 hours
If tube shows acid and gas formation then perform
secondary test
B.(a). Detection of E.coli
0.1ml enrichment culture + 5ml Mac Conkey
broth 0.1ml enrichment culture + 5ml
peptone water
incubate at 370C/24 hrs
Presence of acid and gas
incubate at 370C/24 hrs
0.5ml of Kovacs regt.
Shake and detect presence of red colour
Indole (+ve)
Indicates the presence of E.coli

12. (b) .Detection of Salmonella
1gm or 1ml of the test sample+100 of NAB
Perform primary test
Shake &incubate at 37C/24hrs
1ml enrichment culture +10ml selenite F-
broth
1ml of enrichment culture +10ml of tetrathionate
bile-brilliant green broth
Incubate at 370C /48 hrs
Bismuth sulphite agar
(BSA)
Sub culture each of two cultures, on at least two of the
following 4 agar media
Deoxcholate citrate
agar (DCA)
Brilliant green
agar
BGA
Xylose lysine deoxycholate agar
(XLDCA)
Incubate all plates
at 37C/24hrs and
observe the colony
characteristics
Small, tranparent and
colourless or apaque,pinking
or white
Black or
green
Colourless and opaque with or
without black centers
Red with or
without black
centers
If none of the colonies confirm to the characteristics on the different media, the sample meets the requirements of the absence of
the salmonella. If colonies are formed confirming on the basis discription, carrry out the secondary test.
Subculture any colonies showing the positive characteristics
Triple sugar iron agar
Slant
TSIA (stab)
Urea broth
Incubate at 370C /24hrs
Absence of acidity
Formation of acid and gas Absence of red colour
Indicates presence of
Salmonella
Perform secondary test

13. Pre-heat &inoculate 100ml of fluid soyabean casein digest medium with a quantity
of the 1gm(or as specified in monograph) test sample
Mix& incubate 37C0/48hrs
Examine the medium for growth, if growth is present, streak on the
surface of cetrimide agar medium
incubate at 370C for 24
hours
(c). Detection of P.aeruginosa
Greenish colonies
Streak representative colonies on the surfaces of Pseudomonas agar medium for detection of fluorescein and pyocyanin
Examine the plates to confirming the colonies as yellowish (flurescein) and blue (pyocyanin) colour
Incubate at 370C for not less than 3 days and examine under U.V light
If colony confirms for colour and growth, add growth, add 2-3 drops of 1%w/v solution of N,N,N1,
N2 tetramethyl-4-phenylenediamine di-hydrochloride on filter paper and smear with the colony.
No greenish colonies
(Sample free from p.aeruginosa)
Permorm oxidase test
If there is no development of pink colour (changing to purple)
Absence of pseudomonas aeruginosa

14. Pre-heat &inoculate 100ml of fluid soyabean casein digest medium with a quantity
of the 1gm(or as specified in monograph) test sample
Mix& incubate 37C0/48hrs
Examine the medium for growth, if growth is present, streak on the
surface of following medium
(d). Detection of S.aureus
Vogel-Johnson agar
incubate at 37C0/24hrs
If none of colonies have the characteristics given as above for the media used that indicates absence
of S.aureus. If growth occurs and colony shows the above specific charecteristics, carry out coagulase
test.
Black colonies surrounded by
yellow zones
Transfer representative colonies from the agar surface into a test tube containing 0.5 ml of
mammalian, preferably rabbit or horse plasma with or with out additives.
Baired-Parker agar
Incubate in water broth at 37C0 and examining the tubes at 3 hrs
and subsequently at suitable intervals up to 24 hrs.
If no coagulation is observed that indicates absence of S. aureus
Mannitol-salt agar
Yellow colonies with yellow
zones
Black shiny colonies
surrounded by clear zones