Microbial Count
Quantitative determination of viable microorganisms (CFU) per ISO and AOAC methods for microbiological quality control.
O que é MICROBIAL-COUNT
How Microbial Count Testing Quantifies Viable Contamination
Microbial Count testing determines the number of viable microorganisms present in a sample, typically expressed as colony-forming units (CFU) per gram or milliliter, by plating a diluted sample onto selective or non-selective culture media and incubating under standardized conditions per ISO or AOAC methods before counting the resulting colonies. Total aerobic microbial count and total yeast and mold count are the most common readouts, and specific media can additionally screen for or exclude particular indicator or pathogenic organisms as required by the applicable specification. This testing is a routine, direct measure of microbiological quality used for raw material, in-process and finished product release.
What sets us apart
We don't hand over a spectrum. We hand over the interpretation.
Any lab can return peaks and numbers. Our report reads the data. Three differences define what we deliver — illustrated below with a real, anonymized case.
Multiple techniques, one integrated report
We don't hand back five loose reports. We cross-reference every technique's results into a single reading — each signal checked against the others — to reach an answer, not a pile of data.
- Contamination investigation — identifying and tracing the source of a foreign species.
- Performance degradation — explaining why a batch behaves outside expectations.
- New supplier validation — proving equivalence before switching.
3 LDPE batches · 4 techniques converge, NMR reveals the difference
In semicrystalline polymer systems, thermomechanical processing variables influence chain conformational dynamics¹. Solid-state NMR resolves chemical environments at the nanometer scale², sensitive to changes not detectable by XRD or FTIR³.
Technical justification anchored in the literature
Every technique choice and every inference in the report is backed by peer-reviewed literature — with citations in the text. The conclusion isn't loose opinion: it's a traceable argument, defensible in an audit and in front of the client.
- Numbered citations linking claim to source
- Official standards and methods referenced per analyte
- Auditable reasoning end to end
Conclusion and expert opinion
The report closes with a clear position, signed by the Principal Investigator: what the data shows, what can't yet be claimed, and the next step. It includes an honest caveat on the limits of inference — what separates a technical opinion from a guess.
- Explicit technical position, not just results
- Inference limits declared honestly
- Next-step recommendation signed by the P.I.
Four techniques confirmed equivalence; only the solid-state NMR revealed the subtle conformational change not distinguishable by conventional QC — a molecular signature consistent with the atypical filtration behavior.
Without the industrial line's parameters, no direct causal correlation can be established — a complementary step is recommended for elucidation.
Aplicações de mercado
Onde a MICROBIAL-COUNT entrega resultados
Aplicações de mercado
Pharma
- Product bioburden determination
- Total aerobic microbial count
- Yeast and mould count
- Raw material quality control
- Environmental monitoring programs
Materials
- Microbial contamination of materials
- Finished product quality control
- In-process microbial monitoring
- Cleaning validation support
- Production environment control
Cosmetics
- Mandatory microbial enumeration
- Leave-on limit of 10³ CFU/g
- Quality control of finished cosmetics
- Manufacturing process validation
- Contamination trend monitoring
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Microbial Count
What does CFU stand for, and what does it actually count?
- CFU stands for Colony-Forming Unit — a single viable microorganism (or small cluster) capable of growing into a visible colony on a nutrient medium. Counting CFUs rather than total cells specifically measures living, culturable organisms, which is what matters for contamination risk.
What is the difference between TAMC and TYMC?
- TAMC (Total Aerobic Microbial Count) quantifies viable bacteria, while TYMC (Total Combined Yeasts and Moulds Count) quantifies viable fungi — both are typically reported together as the standard baseline microbial quality indicators for raw materials and finished products.
How is microbial count testing actually performed?
- Common methods include plate count (spreading or pouring a diluted sample onto agar and counting resulting colonies after incubation) and membrane filtration (filtering a liquid sample through a membrane that retains microorganisms, then culturing the membrane), with the choice depending on the sample's expected microbial load and any antimicrobial properties that might otherwise inhibit growth on a direct plate.
Does microbial count testing also identify which specific microorganisms are present?
- A standard microbial count typically reports only total viable counts (TAMC/TYMC), not species identity; when specific organisms need to be identified — such as testing for the absence of specified pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella or Pseudomonas aeruginosa — separate specified-organism absence/presence testing is performed alongside the count.
What microbial count limits apply to cosmetic products?
- Limits vary by product category — leave-on products intended for use near the eyes or on children typically have stricter limits than general leave-on products, and rinse-off products often have more permissive limits, reflecting differing contamination risk and exposure; the applicable limit is determined by the product's category and intended use.
Vamos conversar
Precisa de uma análise por MICROBIAL-COUNT?
Compartilhe seu desafio analítico e a nossa equipe define o método, o preparo de amostra e o escopo do relatório.