Hygiene indicators · count plate
Aerobic Count Plate – ready-to-use plate for total viable count (aerobic colony count)
The Aerobic Count Plate is a ready-to-use dry film plate for total viable count (aerobic colony count). No media preparation, pouring or melting of agar is needed – the sample is applied, incubated and the colonies are counted directly on the plate.
- Ready to use, no media preparation
- Results read directly on the plate
- Pack of 20 plates · COLO code PRO7365
How the Aerobic Count Plate works
The plate contains nutrients and a tetrazolium-type colour indicator. Growing bacteria reduce the indicator and appear as red colonies that are easy to count.
Reading the plate
| Colonies | What to count |
| Red colonies | count all red colonies |
| Whole area pale red | sample too concentrated – dilute further |
Count plates with a well-countable number of colonies and multiply the result by the dilution factor.
Technical data
| Sample preparation | 1 : 10 suspension in phosphate buffer or saline, serial dilutions; 1 mL per plate |
| Incubation | 36 ± 1 °C, 48 ± 2 h, face up (aquatic products 30 ± 1 °C, 72 ± 3 h) |
| Storage | 2–8 °C, sealed; after opening reseal the bag and use within 4 weeks |
| Shelf life | 18 months |
Applications and practical notes
The Aerobic Count Plate is used in routine hygiene control and product testing in food, beverage and water laboratories. Typical applications include:
- raw materials and finished products
- surface and hygiene monitoring with swabs
- water and beverages
- shelf-life studies
Working with Aerobic Count Plate: Lift the top film, dispense 1 mL in the centre of the plate and lower the film slowly to avoid air bubbles. Incubate the plates face up and do not stack more than 20 plates.
Good practice with rapid tests: store the kit as stated on the label, let the components reach room temperature before use and use each item only once. Record the lot number and the result, and confirm positive results according to the reference method when this is required.
About the Salmonella culture method: the reference method for Salmonella in the food chain, ISO 6579-1, has four steps: non-selective pre-enrichment, selective enrichment in two broths, plating on two selective agars and confirmation of typical colonies. The FDA BAM Chapter 5 follows the same principle with media adapted to different food types. Rapid tests and identification kits shorten the time to result, but positive screening results are usually confirmed by the culture method. COLO.Science offers products for every step, so that one supplier covers the whole procedure.
Complete sets from one supplier: COLO.Science supplies culture media, supplements, rapid tests, identification kits and QC strains as complete sets for the method you follow. Send us your sample types and standards, and we will prepare an offer with the matching products and documentation.
Aerobic Count Plate is supplied by COLO.Science in the pack sizes listed under Ordering information. For larger quantities, regular deliveries or method-specific sets that include Aerobic Count Plate, please send us a request. With every delivery of Aerobic Count Plate you receive the lot number and expiry date, and on request we send the available documentation for Aerobic Count Plate.
Where the Aerobic Count Plate fits in the counting procedure
- Sample preparation – 1 : 10 initial suspension in sterile diluent
- Dilution – ten-fold serial dilutions as needed
- Inoculation – 1 mL per plate, spread by the gel
- Incubation and counting – count the typical colonies and calculate CFU per g or mL
Ordering information
| Product | COLO code | Pack |
|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Count Plate | PRO7365 | 20 plates |
Product notice: preparation, storage conditions and shelf life are given on the label. Technical data on this page are for orientation; the label and the lot documentation apply. B2B prices are quoted net, excluding VAT.
Sales and technical support
COLO LabExperts
Polje ob Sotli 4, SI-3255, Slovenia
Quotations and technical support for culture media and microbiology products across our international sales territory. B2B prices are net, excluding VAT.
COLO.SCIENCE | MICROBIOLOGY SUPPORT
Need the complete set for your method?
Send the sample type, target organism and the standard you follow. COLO.Science will put together the media, supplements, QC strains and confirmation tests for the whole procedure.
