Abstract

A surface viable counting method is described making use of a nichrome wire loop having an external diameter 5 mm, which is streaked on an overdried plate. The loop holds 1/35 ml (0·02857 ml) peptone water. When tried in parallel with pipettes that delivered 1/50 ml (0·02 ml) drops, it gave reproducible results not at all inferior to those obtained with 50-dropping pipettes.