Overview
ISO/TR 6579-3:2014 - part of the ISO 6579 series “Microbiology of the food chain - Horizontal method for the detection, enumeration and serotyping of Salmonella” - provides guidance for the serotyping of Salmonella spp. This Technical Report gives laboratories practical, standardized instructions for determining the antigenic formula of pure Salmonella cultures, based on the White–Kauffmann–Le Minor scheme. It is applicable to serotyping of pure cultures regardless of the isolation source and complements detection and enumeration methods in the ISO 6579 series.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and purpose: Guidance on serotyping procedures for confirmed Salmonella isolates (pure cultures).
- Antigenic targets: Identification of O-antigens, H-antigens and Vi-antigens to produce an antigenic formula (serotype).
- Taxonomy & nomenclature: Current naming conventions for Salmonella (two species: S. enterica and S. bongori; subspecies of S. enterica), and accepted serovar naming (e.g., Salmonella Typhimurium).
- Laboratory practice: Recommendations on culture media, reagents and antisera; requirement to follow good microbiological practice (ISO 7218) and culture media performance testing (ISO 11133).
- Apparatus & conditions: Typical equipment and incubation guidance (e.g., growth at ~34–38 °C) to obtain sufficient material for serotyping.
- Detailed procedures and examples: Stepwise guidance, including example procedures for serotyping five public-health-related serovars, microtitre plate methods, biochemical tests, and phase inversion techniques (see informative annexes).
- Quality control & reporting: Sections covering QC practices and result reporting to ensure reliable serotyping outcomes.
- Safety: Explicit warning that serotyping should be carried out in properly equipped labs under skilled supervision with careful disposal of incubated materials.
Practical applications
- Routine public health surveillance and outbreak investigation to identify Salmonella serovars.
- Food safety testing laboratories validating isolates from food, feed, or environmental samples.
- Reference and research laboratories performing detailed characterization and reporting of Salmonella serotypes.
- Epidemiologists and regulatory agencies tracking serovar distribution and trends.
Keywords: ISO/TR 6579-3:2014, Salmonella serotyping, serotyping of Salmonella spp., White–Kauffmann–Le Minor, O-antigen H-antigen Vi-antigen, microbiology of the food chain, laboratory guidance.
Related standards
- ISO 6579-1: Horizontal method for detection of Salmonella spp.
- ISO 7218: General requirements and guidance for microbiological examinations.
- ISO 11133: Preparation and performance testing of culture media.
ISO/TR 6579-3:2014 is a practical, authoritative resource for laboratories needing standardized guidance on serotyping Salmonella isolates for food safety, clinical and surveillance purposes.
Open preview (PDF)Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal method for the detection, enumeration and serotyping of Salmonella — Part 3: Guidelines for serotyping of Salmonella spp.