Aerobic Colony Count
Aerobic Colony Count
Aerobic Plate Count (APC) is used as an indicator of bacterial populations in a sample. It is also called aerobic colony count, standard plate count, Mesophilic count, or Total Plate Count.
The test is based on the assumption that each cell will form a visible colony when mixed with agar containing the appropriate nutrients. It is not a measure of the entire bacterial population; It is a general test for organisms that grow aerobically at mesophilic temperatures (25 to 40°C).
Aerobic Plate Count does not distinguish between bacterial species. Aerobic Plate Count can be used to measure quality, organoleptic acceptability, adherence to good manufacturing practices and to a lesser extent as an indicator of safety. Aerobic Plate Count can also provide information about shelf life or impending organoleptic change in a food.
Depending on the situation, the Aerobic Plate Count can be valuable in assessing food quality. A large number of bacteria can be an indication of poor sanitation or problems with process control or ingredients. Certain products, such as those produced by fermentation, naturally have a high Aerobic Plate Count. However, having a low Aerobic Plate Count does not mean the absence of pathogens.
It is often necessary to test foods for specific pathogens or spoilage organisms before making decisions about food safety or food quality.