Modified Microtiter count method for viable cell counts from pure cultures and food model samples

A modified Microtiter count method was designed to assess viable cell counts in a rapid, easy, and accurate way. A Spiral plate method was used for comparison with the modified Microtiter count method. There was a strong correlation between the two methods in microbial counts from pure cultures (Escherichia coli O157:H7, R2=0.984; Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis, R2=0.995; and Listeria monocytogenes, R2=0.994) and food samples (R2=0.897). This study suggests that a modified Microtiter count method can be used to determine viable bacterial cell counts.