Hello Iti, I do not understand your question. Of course microbial assays are quite different from antibiotic standardization methods. If you are worried about antibiotic assays which are for the most part growth inhibition assays, please don't be. Microbial assays could also include growth promotion assays. Antibiotics are not the only microbial metabolites of interest, especially not to Microbial biotechnologists. Vitamins, amino acids, biosurfactants etc, could all be be subjected to microbial assays. Antibiotic standardization could be done using standard disc preparations on standard test microorganisms.

HPLC and microbiological assay are used for the quantification of the potency of antibiotics. While HPLC method is commonly used for the quantification of antibiotics, but unable to determine the bio-activity. Microbiological assay estimates both potency and bio-activity of antibiotics.

Maurice Ekpenyong : Sir I want to know about the methods employed for standardization of antibiotics, vitamins & Amino acids.

Sylvester Peter Antai : Sir can u please suggest some literature for HPLC methods for standardization. Can u also help for standardization methods of Vitamins & amino acids.