8. Monitoring and Measurement of Microorganisms
The chapter discusses the methods and standards for monitoring and analyzing microorganisms, specifically focusing on water quality. It covers the challenges of counting microbial populations, the importance of culturing methods, and various advanced techniques like flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Key points include understanding viable versus non-viable microorganisms and how turbidity can indicate the presence of living pathogens in water.
Enroll to start learning
You've not yet enrolled in this course. Please enroll for free to listen to audio lessons, classroom podcasts and take practice test.
Sections
Navigate through the learning materials and practice exercises.
What we have learnt
- Microorganisms in water quality analysis are critically measured using various standards.
- Culturing methods allow for the growth of bacteria to form colonies, which can be counted to assess microbial levels.
- Advanced techniques like microscopy, flow cytometry, and DNA analysis provide more detailed information about microbial presence and types.
Key Concepts
- -- Colony Forming Unit (CFU)
- A measure of viable bacteria or fungal cells. One CFU is defined as the ability of a single microorganism to grow into a visible colony.
- -- Turbidity
- The cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, which can indicate high levels of microorganisms.
- -- Viable vs NonViable Microorganisms
- Viable microorganisms can grow and multiply, while non-viable microorganisms are dead and do not pose the same health risks.
- -- Flow Cytometry
- A technology used to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of cells or particles in a fluid as they pass through a laser.
Additional Learning Materials
Supplementary resources to enhance your learning experience.