Sunday 5 February 2017

Difference between Qualitative, Quantitative and Semi quantitative testing Microbiology.

microbiology different tests are performed like Microbial limit tests (MLT), Sterility tests,
Bacterial endotoxin testing (BET), viable monitoring, Growth promotion tests and LBPC etc. In these tests some are qualitative, some are quantitative and some are semi quantitative tests.

Qualitative tests:
·         Qualitative tests are given either pass or fail / present or absent.
·         Qualitative results are typically reported as positive or negative / detected or not detected.
·         This type tests provide yes or no answer about sample.
·         In these type of tests results are not given in form of counting or calculations.
·         Sterility test is one of the best example of qualitative test because in sterility test, results    would be either pass or fail.
·         In sterility testing we could check either contamination is present or absent in the sample.

Quantitative tests:

·       Quantitative tests are given the results numerical (results are like  1,2,3,4 …..etc) information about sample.
·      Quantitative tests are those tests in which results are given in form of counting or calculations.
·       MLT is one of the example of quantitative test in which results are given in form of number of cfu's for total aerobic microbial count or total yeast and mold count.
·        But when we perform pathogen testing in MLT, that pathogen identification part is
 qualitative testing because in pathogen testing we couldn't determine number of cfu's  of pathogens but we give the results in form of pass or fail whether pathogens are present    or absent.                        
·         Colony counting is another example of quantitative testing in which results are given
  in form of number of cfu's.

Semi quantitative tests:
·         Semi quantitative tests are given the results less than or grater than results. (ex : <5 cfu )
·         BET is one of the example of semi-quantitative test.
·         In BET if it is performed by gel clot method then it is semi quantitative because by this      method we could either give results in form of less than or greater than the specified limits.
·         For example if product Cefotaxime is having BET limit of not more than 0.20 EU/mg then       results would be either less than 0.20 EU/mg or greater than 0.20 EU/mg.
·         In this, less than 0.20 EU/mg would be pass result and more than 0.20 EU/mg would be fail   result.
·         That's why it is called semi quantitative test.


                    
Quantitative Tests
MLT (Total Aerobic Microbial Count and Total yeast and mould count)
Viable monitoning,
All Colony counter testing,
LBPC tesing,
All Bioburden testing,
Visual insfection
Media GPT like SCDA, SDA  and agar media.
Qualitative Tests
Sterility Test,
Specified organism Tests (Pathogen test),
Media GPT like SCDM, SDB  and liquid medium.
Semi quantitative Tests
BET,
Dillution Tests (MPN)


What is the fumigation and fogging?

What is the fumigation and fogging?