Table 4.

Analyses of water sources for faecal indicator bacteria and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in the nursing home

Sample sources	Sample size	Collection date	Test date	Test items	Test methods	Test results	Reference values*
Water well	1	5 Feb. 2015	5 Feb. 2015	Total bacteria count	Plate count method	710 c.f.u./ml	⩽100 c.f.u./ml
				The coliform group	Lactose fermentation, separate cultivation and confirmatory test	1600 c.f.u./100 ml	Negative
				Thermotolerant coliform bacteria	Membrane filter technique	1600 c.f.u./100 ml	Negative
Water boiler	1	5 Feb. 2015	5 Feb. 2015	Total bacteria count	Plate count method	Negative	⩽100 c.f.u./ml
				The coliform group	Lactose fermentation, separate cultivation and confirmatory test	Negative	Negative
				Thermotolerant coliform bacteria	Membrane filter technique	Negative	Negative
Tap-water pipes†	8	8 Feb. 2015	8 Feb. 2015	Total bacteria count	Plate count method	0–3 c.f.u./ml	⩽100 c.f.u./ml
				The coliform group	Lactose fermentation, separate cultivation and confirmatory test	Negative	Negative
				Thermotolerant coliform bacteria	Membrane filter technique	Negative	Negative
				HEV	Real-time PCR	Negative	Negative

^*The reference values were derived from standards for drinking water quality issued by the Ministry of Health of China.

^†The water samples were collected from four different tap-water pipes. Of these, three were located in the rooms of different cases, while one was located in the refectory of the nursing home. Two samples were collected from each tap-water pipe.