A SIMPLE METHOD TO ASSESS BACTERIAL ATTACHMENT TO SURFACES

The crystal violet microplate adhesion assay was modified to evaluate bacterial adhesion to metal and non-metal surfaces. Both the viable ce ll count and the absorbance of the crystal violet stained cells attach ed to aluminium increased over the period of incubation. There was a h ighly significant positive linear relationship between crystal violet stained attached cells and the viable cell count of cells attached to aluminium panels (r = 0.9997; < p 0.001: n = 6). The method is relativ ely simple, sensitive, less time consuming and therefore many samples can be analysed in a short period of time. When the calibrated method was employed to assess the attachment of Vibrio sp to polystyrene, sta inless steel and copper, it gave a fairly reliable estimate of bacteri al adhesion to these surfaces.