Summary.Two methods for the rapid detection and estimation of numbers of faecal coliforms andEscherichia colitype I in oysters have been developed. That for faecal coliforms involves incubation of tubes of MacConkey broth for 2 h at 37° and then for 22–24 h at 44°. The second method, a modification of MacKenzie, Taylor&Gilbert's (1948) specific method forE. colitype I, makes use of the same system of incubation, but requires the inoculation of tubes of peptone water as well as MacConkey broth, the former tubes being used for subsequent testing for indole formation. Both methods take only 24–26 h and are as sensitive and accurate as the Most Probable Number methods which are in common use and which take upwards of 72–96 h to c