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A Comparative Study of McFarland Turbidity Standards and the Densimat Photometer to Determine Bacterial Cell Density

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Abstract

McFarland Turbidity Standards and the Densimat photometer were compared for their accuracy to adjust bacterial suspensions. Six bacterial species were tested with both methods. Statistical analyses showed that adjusting bacterial suspensions with the Densimat photometer results in less variation within assays and in a more accurate determination of bacterial inocula.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Ms. Heather Perkins (senior research assistant, Canadian Blood Services) for technical assistance with this study. We are grateful to Dr. QiLong Yi (senior biostatistician, Canadian Blood Services) for performing the statistical analyses of the data. Funding for this research was provided by Canadian Blood Services and Health Canada although the views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the Canadian Federal government.

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The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Correspondence to Sandra Ramirez-Arcos.

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Zapata, A., Ramirez-Arcos, S. A Comparative Study of McFarland Turbidity Standards and the Densimat Photometer to Determine Bacterial Cell Density. Curr Microbiol 70, 907–909 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-015-0801-2

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