Use of the Coulter Counter to Count Cells of Streptococcus faecalis

Abstract

Summary. The suitability of the Coulter electronic particle counter for counting chains of cells of Streptococcus faecalis was investigated. Growth curves produced from electronic counts had similar characteristics to curves produced from nephelometer readings, viable pour plate counts and total counts performed with a Thoma counting chamber. The validity of comparing counts obtained using different counting parameters is discussed.

Use of a Coulter Counter to Detect Discrete Changes in Cell Numbers and Volume During Growth of Escherichia coli

“…Least disparity occurred at the end of exponential growth (6 h) when the culture contained 97.5 % viable cells. Andrew & Westwood (1971) found that a strain of Streptococcus faecalis had viable counts greater than Coulter counts. They postulated that cell chains, recorded as single units by the Coulter Counter, split into smaller units during serial dilution to elevate the viable count.…”

“…Most of the earlier work with Coulter Counters was performed with pure cultures where experimental conditions were controlled to provide optimum working conditions. In these circumstances the instrument generally provided total counts and/or size distribution curves of cells in various microbiological systems ; sometimes purely as an alternative to established methods of performing these functions (Mountney & O'Malley, 1966;Adams, 1966;Glynn & Medhurst, 1967), but mainly in an analytical capacity for studying aspects of cell and spore physiology to indicate specific metabolic activities (Lark & Lark, 1960;Toennies, Iszard, Rogers & Shockman, 1961 ; Knisely & Throop, 1965; Garrett & Miller, 1965; Gorchein, Neuberger & Tait, 1967;Andrew & Westwood, 1971). Spore volume and shape of volume distribution curves have also been assessed for possible use in fungal taxonomy (Barnes & Parker, 1968).…”

Enumerating Leptospires Using the Coulter Counter

“…Several studies have demonstrated its utility for counting various bacterial organisms from Bacillus species to cocci. 5,6 In one later study, a direct linear relationship was demonstrated when counts of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus faecalis obtained by the Coulter counter were compared with those obtained by the pour plate technique. The ease and rapidity of counting with the Coulter was felt to make this technique superior to the pour plate method.…”

High-Sensitivity Method for Counting Low Concentrations of Particles in Liquids Using Centrifugation and Image Analysis

“…The currently available counting methods can be divided into two broad categories: those for counting high concentrations and those for counting low concentrations of particles. For counting high concentrations of particles on the order of 10 6 particles/ml, the electrical sensing zone (Coulter counter) technique 4,5) or flow cytometry 6,7) are used. These techniques count particles by monitoring the change in impedance or light scattering, respectively, and can be used to determine particle concentrations within about 10% accuracy on the order of 10 6 particles/ml.…”