Viable-but-nonculturable organisms

Definition

Living microorganisms that remain viable but do not grow on standard culture media, escaping culture-based counts.

Heterotrophic plate counts miss viable-but-nonculturable organisms, which is one reason bulk culture tests understate biological risk. These cells can persist in a low-activity state and resume growth later. Molecular methods like qPCR detect them where culture tests fail.

Related concepts

qPCR molecular testing · Dormancy · Heterotrophic plate count (HPC)

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Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🦠 biology