A novel procedure for CFU plating and counting

Bahram Houchmandzadeh (1) , Patrice Ballet (1)

1 LIPhy - Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire de Physique [Saint Martin d’Hères]

Abstract We present a novel method to automate plating for the Colony Forming Unit (CFU) counting procedure. The apparatus we developed for the application of this method is based on motorized stages and syringe in order to spread fine drops of a liquid containing a solution of interest on a plate without direct contact. The apparatus can be used in two modes : (i) the classical methods of CFU on agar plate and (ii) a novel method we call P_{0} of spreading on a solid substrate (plastic or glass). This new method removes the need for preparing agar surfaces and allows for easy disposal of waste and reuse of consumables. The apparatus is simple to build and use, the plating is fast and the CFU count in both type of plating is extremely reproducible and robust.

Keywords: CFU; automated plating

Domains: Biological Physics [physics.bio-ph]

Bahram Houchmandzadeh, Patrice Ballet. A novel procedure for CFU plating and counting. 2022. ⟨hal-03890465v1⟩