About Aerobic Plate Count (APC)

Aerobic Plate Count (APC) refers to mesophilic aerobic bacteria that grow under aerobic conditions at 35℃ ± 1°C after incubation for 48 ± 3 hours using standard agar medium. The count indicates the extent of microbial contamination in food and is used as a comprehensive hygiene indicator to evaluate the food's safety, shelf life, and proper handling in a sanitary manner. A high bacteria count may suggest unsanitary handling, improper temperature management, or other issues. This test examines the number of viable bacteria present, but certain bacteria such as psychrophilic bacteria, thermophilic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria, and halophilic bacteria cannot grow under the culture conditions of the standard agar medium used to measure the count. When testing for these types of bacteria, it is necessary to modify the culture medium composition, culture method, and incubation temperature to match the characteristics of the target bacteria.

Reference: Food Sanitation Inspection Guidelines: Microbial Edition, Revised 2nd Edition, 2018

General Workflow for measuring the count

Products for Aerobic Plate Counts

This is a ready-to-use microbial testing film medium that requires no preparation of culture media.