Enumeration of airborne bacteria and fungi using solid phase cytometry.
Conventional methods for the enumeration of airborne micro-organisms are inaccurate and time-consuming, hence the interest in novel approaches is increasing. In the present study, the use of solid phase cytometry (SPC) was evaluated for the enumeration of airborne micro-organisms. A 4 h SPC procedure based on viability staining was applied to samples from 50 locations and compared with an optimised culture-based method. Plate counts after air sampling were repeatable but strongly dependent on sampling volume. Samples with low or high microbial load were difficult to analyse using the culture-based method, unlike with SPC. Results show that SPC can be considered superior to the culture-based method because of its much higher dynamic range, its speed and its ability to enumerate not only culturable but all viable micro-organisms.
Laboratory for Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, Ghent, Belgium.
Lies M E
LM
Vanhee
Hans J
HJ
Nelis
Tom
T
Coenye
D000391:Air Microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001704:Biopolymers; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D005658:Fungi / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008828:Microbiological Techniques
D001704:Biopolymers; D003470:Culture Media