Microbiological Study: Calculating Dilution Factor

What is the final dilution factor of the plate that was counted based on the given culture density of 1.96 x 10^7?

A) 5.102 x 10^-8

B) 1/1.96 x 10^7

C) 1.96 x 10^7

D) None of the above

Final answer:

The final dilution factor of the plate that was counted is (B) 1/1.96 x 10^7.

To determine the final dilution factor of the plate that was counted, we need to consider the culture density of the sample, which was found to be 1.96 x 10^7. The correct answer is (B) 1/1.96 x 10^7 because to revert back to the original concentration from the measured culture density, we have to dilute it by the reciprocal of the detected culture density.

The final dilution factor represents the total dilution that the sample has undergone throughout the dilution series. In this case, it is crucial to understand that the purpose of determining the dilution factor is to calculate the original cell population in a sample accurately.

Each step of dilution is usually performed in multiples of 10 to simplify calculations. Knowing the final dilution factor helps microbiologists in reverse calculating the initial cell count and obtaining accurate results from their studies.