Developments in Plating Methodology for Food Microbiologists

Abstract

In order to simplify plate count procedures used in the food industry, a number of strategies has been adopted. The preparation and hundling of media have been simplij?ed with the advent of bench top sterilizers and uutotnated plate pourers. Inoculation of plates using spiral platers have decreased the need for dilutions and special devices have been developed to make plute counts easier. Plates can be counted autotnatically using image analysis instrumentation and, in some instances, results can be obtained faster by the adoption of niodij?ed incubation conditions.