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.

MICROBIAL-COUNT

Contagem Microbiana

Determinação quantitativa de microrganismos viáveis (UFC) segundo metodologias ISO e AOAC para controle de qualidade microbiológico.

Solicitar relatório →← Voltar à antimicrobial microbiology

O que é MICROBIAL-COUNT

Uma técnica de análise avançada

Determinação quantitativa de microrganismos viáveis (UFC) segundo metodologias ISO e AOAC para controle de qualidade microbiológico.

SensibilidadeAlta

Estado da amostraVariável

Variantes de MICROBIAL-COUNT

Configurações disponíveis

Contagem Microbiana RDC 47/2013

Verificação da qualidade microbiológica de produtos acabados com contagem total de aeróbios mesófilos, fungos e leveduras, e pesquisa de patógenos específicos (S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli) segundo RDC 47/2013 ANVISA.

Ver detalhes →

私たちの違い

スペクトルだけをお渡しすることはありません。お渡しするのは解釈です。

どの検査機関でもピークと数値は返せます。私たちの報告書はデータを読み解きます。私たちが提供する価値を決定づける3つの違いを、匿名化した実際の事例で以下にご紹介します。

複数の分析技術を、1つの統合された報告書に

バラバラの5つの報告書をお渡しすることはありません。すべての分析技術の結果を突き合わせ、各シグナルを他と照合したうえで、単一の解釈にまとめ上げます — データの山ではなく、答えにたどり着くためです。

汚染調査 — 異物の由来を特定し追跡する。
性能劣化 — ロットが想定外の挙動を示す理由を説明する。
新規サプライヤーの検証 — 切り替え前に同等性を証明する。

分析結果の収束・実際の事例1つが不一致：NMR

FTIR赤外分光法

同等

FTラマンラマン散乱

同等

XRDX線回折

同等

XRF蛍光X線分析

同等

固体¹³C NMR核磁気共鳴・固体状態

差異を検出

LDPE 3ロット · 4技術が一致し、NMRのみが差異を明らかに

4. 実験的根拠

半結晶性ポリマー系では、加工時の熱力学的変数が鎖のコンフォメーション動態に影響します¹。固体NMRはナノメートルスケールの化学的環境を分解でき²、XRDやFTIRでは検出できない変化にも感度を示します³。

参考文献

1Muller et al. (2015). Polymer Testing, 45, 112–120.

2Schmidt-Rohr & Spiess (1994). Multidimensional Solid-State NMR.

3Korbi et al. (2025). J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 142, e5531.

文献に裏付けられた技術的根拠

報告書における技術選択と推論はすべて、査読済み文献に基づき、本文中に引用を明記しています。結論は単なる意見ではなく、監査でもお客様への説明でも通用する、追跡可能な論拠です。

主張と出典を結びつける番号付き引用
分析対象ごとに参照される公式規格・方法
最初から最後まで検証可能な論理展開

結論と専門家の見解

報告書は主任研究員が署名する明確な見解で締めくくられます — データが示すこと、まだ断定できないこと、そして次のステップです。推論の限界についても正直に注記しており、これが単なる推測と技術的見解を分けるポイントです。

結果だけでなく明確な技術的見解を提示
推論の限界を正直に明記
主任研究員(P.I.)署名による次のステップの提案

8. 結論

4つの技術が同等性を確認しましたが、 固体NMRのみ が、従来のQCでは判別できない微妙なコンフォメーション変化を明らかにしました — これはろ過挙動の異常と一致する分子シグネチャです。

工業ラインのパラメータがないため、直接的な因果関係は特定できません — 解明のための追加調査を推奨します。

Dr. ██████████主任研究員 · CRQ 381965

署名済み

Aplicações de mercado

Onde a MICROBIAL-COUNT entrega resultados

Aplicações de mercado

ファーマ

Product bioburden determination
Total aerobic microbial count
Yeast and mould count
Raw material quality control
Environmental monitoring programs

材料

Microbial contamination of materials
Finished product quality control
In-process microbial monitoring
Cleaning validation support
Production environment control

化粧品

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.

Solicitar orçamento →