A public health laboratory is testing drinking water for fecal coliforms using the membrane filtration technique. However, their tests yield unreliable and inconsistent results. Which of the following adjustments would MOST LIKELY improve the accuracy of their coliform enumeration?

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Extending incubation beyond 48 hours to allow all coliform colonies to develop

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Filtering only 1 mL of water per sample to prevent membrane clogging

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Increasing incubation temperature from 45°C to 55°C to speed up bacterial growth

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Using a selective differential medium (e.g., m-FC agar) to distinguish fecal coliforms

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A public health laboratory is testing drinking water for fecal coliforms using t...

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