Question

discuss and explain one limitation of Standard Plate Count and how one can possibly address this in laboratory setting.

Answer 1

In the lab we can make agar plates on which bacterial colonies can be determined and this is very common technique used in the microbiology lab. Bacterial sample can be diluted according to their OD in double distilled autoclave water, pour on to plates, incubate and next day morning, colonies can be estimated.

Although this is very efficient method and world wise in use but have some limitation, as it is not suitable for a wider range (only good for from 25-30 to 250-300 colony forming units (c.f.u.) bacteria on a plate. The best strategy to overcome this issue is to use more diluted samples and number should be multiplied by dilution factor. OD measurement is also an option to estimate growth and proliferation of bacteria.