VISUALIZING BACTERIAL CELLS FOR DIRECT MICROSCOPIC COUNTING ON THE MILLIPORE FILTER, HYDROSOL TYPE

Abstract

An improved technique for visualizing vegetative and spore cells of bacteria is described. Cells are stained with the aid of heat prior to filtering the suspension through a hydrosol type membrane filter; excess dye is removed from the membrane and the membrane then cleared with Shillaber''s 1.508 refractive index oil. Microscope counting procedures are applied to obtain a reliable total cell count.