Question

Which of the following is an advantage of the standard plate count? A) Cannot be used to count bacteria in food

B) Determines the number of viable cells
C) Chemical and physical requirements are determined by media and incubation.
D) Requires incubation time
E) Can readily count cells that form aggregates

Answer 1

The standard plate count's advantage is that it determines the number of viable cells by counting visible colonies that arise from live bacteria when incubated.

Step-by-step explanation:

The advantage of the standard plate count is that it determines the number of viable cells. This method is based on the principle that viable cells will replicate and give rise to visible colonies when incubated under proper conditions, allowing for the estimation of live bacterial numbers in a sample.

The count is expressed as colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL), which can be an underestimate of the actual number of live cells due to factors such as cells growing in aggregates, but it remains a useful method for measuring viable bacteria.