Evaluation of the Errors Involved in Estimating Bacterial Numbers by the Plating Method
- 1 April 1940
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Society for Microbiology in Journal of Bacteriology
- Vol. 39 (4), 389-397
- https://doi.org/10.1128/jb.39.4.389-397.1940
Abstract
The dilution error and the distribution error are the chief sources of variation accounting for the total error. An expression is derived for evaluating the dilution error, deviations in pipettes and dilution blanks being known. A convenient table of dilution errors, as percentage standard deviations, is given, covering the range of dilutions ordinarily employed, for all combinations of dilution blanks and for various combinations of deviations in pipettes and blanks. The usual method for estimating the distribution error is indicated, and a formula given for calculating the total error from the distribution error and the dilution error.This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
- The Relations Between Plate Counts and Direct Microscopic Counts of Escherichia coli During the Logarithmic Growth PeriodJournal of Bacteriology, 1937
- Application of Statistics to Problems in BacteriologyJournal of Bacteriology, 1935
- A Statistical Inquiry into Methods for Estimating Numbers of RhizobiaJournal of Bacteriology, 1931
- THE ACCURACY OF THE PLATING METHOD OF ESTIMATING THE DENSITY OF BACTERIAL POPULATIONSAnnals of Applied Biology, 1922
- THE PROPORTION OF VIABLE BACTERIA IN YOUNG CULTURES WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE TECHNIQUE EMPLOYED IN COUNTINGJournal of Bacteriology, 1922