Which of the following bacterial counting techniques relies on a statistical estimate to determine the number of bacteria in a culture?
A) serial dilution
B) standard plate count
C) spread plate
D) most probable number

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The most probable number (MPN) technique relies on statistical estimates to determine the number of bacteria present in a given sample. It involves creating a series of dilutions and inoculating each dilution into a series of tubes. The presence or absence of growth in each tube is then recorded and used to calculate the most probable number of bacteria in the original sample. The other techniques listed (serial dilution, standard plate count, and spread plate) involve directly counting the number of bacterial colonies on a plate or in a sample and do not rely on statistical estimates.

Which of the Following Bacterial Counting Techniques Relies on a Statistical