When we take the average of two petriplates for counting the microbial colonies, sometimes the cfu count comes in fraction values, i.e. 0.5 x 10^8 or 2.5 x 10^8 cfu. But the fraction value is not practically possible as we can not say bacteria is half (0.5/2.5 etc) in number.
How can we represent the values? Can we write 1.0 instead of 0.5 and 3.0 instead of 2.5? Please tell me possible solution for this. I would appreciate justified answers, discussions and published literature.
.5 x 10^8 is the same thing as 5 x 10^7
also .5 x 10^8 does not mean that a bacterium is a half.. It's simply scientific notation meaning you have 50000000 cfu
.5 x 10^8 is the same thing as 5 x 10^7
also .5 x 10^8 does not mean that a bacterium is a half.. It's simply scientific notation meaning you have 50000000 cfu
And to add here, also depends on what number of "sig figs" you want to use; probably most appropriate to just use the text "5 x 10 8".
Dear Kunal Garg,
As Dear Stephen Doyle and Dear Mesrop Ayrapetyan mentioned, 0.5 does not mean a half of a bacterium, is completely an average and has mathematical concept but in order to accomplish an accurate colony count in microbiological studies, following general references can help you in this regard.
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodScienceResearch/LaboratoryMethods/ucm063346.htm
http://www.iremsaglik.com/HPA/w4.pdf
http://www.ukmeat.org/pdf/MinceMSMTVC.pdf
http://www.fssai.gov.in/Portals/0/Pdf/15Manuals/MICROBIOLOGY%20MANUAL.pdf
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