Serial dilutions & "spread plate technique"?
If you were to directly take a given serial dilution and do a count under a microscope what would be the advantages and disadvantages of this method versus carrying out the serial dilution-agar plate procedure to count the number of "cells"?
Comments
Serial dilution direct count:
Advantages:
Count all the cells living or dead
Results would be quickly obtained
Disadvantage:
Can't differentiate between living and dead cells
Direct count errors
Cells could be difficult to observe without stains or phase-contrast microscopy
Plate:
Advantages:
Counts only living cells
Fewer counting errors
Disadvantages:
All species present may not be able to grow under specific growth conditions.
Incubation time would delay collection of data
More skill required for the procedure
Can't detect presence of non-viable species that may be present
Dilution Plating Technique