Total viable count, gives a quantitative estimate of the concentration of microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast or mould spores in a sample. The count represents the number of colony forming units per g of the sample.

How do you do a total viable count?

The total number of colonies is referred to as the Total Viable Count (TVC). The unit of measurement is cfu/ml (or colony forming units per milliliter) and relates to the original sample. Calculation of this is a multiple of the counted number of colonies multiplied by the dilution used.

What is the meaning of viable count?

Viable count is a method used in cell culture to determine the number of living cells in a culture. This is different from other cell counting techniques because it makes a distinction between live and dead cells.