P. Lebaron et al., ACCURACY OF EPIFLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY COUNTS FOR DIRECT ESTIMATES OFBACTERIAL NUMBERS, Journal of microbiological methods, 19(2), 1994, pp. 89-94
The aim of this study was to determine the extent and source of inaccu
racies for total counts of microorganisms by filtration followed by ep
ifluorescent microscopy. The extent of these inaccuracies were determi
ned by comparing the microscopic method with viable plate counts while
their possible sources were investigated using flow cytometry and flu
orescent microbeads. One factor responsible for these inaccuracies was
found to be the microscope conversion factor which did not take into
account the total filter surface area on which the bacteria were impac
ted. Approximately a two-fold underestimation was observed when the fi
ltration area rather than the effective area over which the cells are
distributed were compared. Thus it is recommended that the latter be a
ccurately measured when calculating the conversion factor in order to
reduce the inaccuracy of direct microscopic counts.