Reporting viable plate counts In bacteriology reports, colony counts from viable plate methods are most commonly expressed in which unit?

Introduction / Context:
Standardized reporting ensures clinicians can interpret results consistently across laboratories. Viable counts typically quantify organisms relative to sample volume to allow comparisons across patients and time.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Plate counts originate from a measured volume plated after serial dilution.
• Clinical thresholds (for example, urinary infection cutoffs) are defined in CFU per milliliter.
• Results should allow direct comparison independent of plating volume.

Concept / Approach:
The conventional unit is CFU per mL (cfu/mL). Reporting only “cfu” lacks context because colony numbers depend on the volume plated and dilution factor. Expressing thousands/mL is nonstandard and may obscure significant digits; percent growth is meaningless for plate counts.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Count colonies on a plate within 30–300 colonies.Compute CFU/mL = colonies * (1 / plated volume in mL) * dilution factor.Report the final value as cfu/mL (for example, 1.6 × 10^5 cfu/mL).Round and flag according to clinical thresholds if applicable.

Verification / Alternative check:
Laboratory accreditation guidelines and clinical microbiology texts use cfu/mL for urine, respiratory specimens, and quantitative wound cultures.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• A: “cfu” alone omits the critical volume context.
• C: Using both simultaneously for the same test would be inconsistent; cfu/mL is preferred.
• D: “thousands/mL” is an informal expression and not standard.
• E: “Percent growth” is not a recognized unit for plate counts.

Common Pitfalls:
Forgetting to include the dilution factor or plated volume; misreporting significant figures beyond the method’s precision.

Final Answer:
cfu/mL (colony-forming units per milliliter)