Interpretation
Guide
The 3M™ Petrifilm™ Lactic Acid Bacteria
Count Plate is a self-contained, sample-
ready-culture-medium system which
contains nutrients, selective agents, a
cold-water-soluble gelling agent and
a tetrazolium indicator that facilitates
colony enumeration. The plate contains
oxygen scavenging compounds which
create an anaerobic environment for
the recovery of homofermentative and
heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria
in the food and beverage industries.
LAB
Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate
1
Figure 1 Figure 2
Total lactic acid bacteria count = 0 Total lactic acid bacteria count = 236
3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate without colonies. The recommended counting range is less than 300 colonies
without gas. Artifact bubbles may result from improper
inoculation (Circle 1) of the 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria
Count Plate or from trapped air within the sample. They are
irregularly shaped and not associated with a red colony. Do
not count colonies on the dam.
Figure 3 Figure 4
Total lactic acid bacteria count = 24 Total lactic acid bacteria count = 38
The recommended counting range is less than 150 colonies with Count all red colonies regardless of size and intensity.
gas. Gas bubble size will vary by size and shape. Gas may disrupt
the colony so that the colony “outlines” the bubble.
Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate 2
Figure 5 Figure 6a Figure 6b
Total lactic acid bacteria count = TNTC Total lactic acid Total lactic acid
bacteria count = TNTC bacteria count = 0
3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plates with colony counts too numerous to count (TNTC) may have one or more of the following
characteristics: many small colonies, many gas bubbles, and a deepening of the gel color from blue to pink-purple. High concentrations of
colonies on the plates will cause the entire growth area to become deep-blue to purple with a pink halo around the outer edge of the plate.
For a more accurate count, further dilution of sample may be necessary.
Figure 7 Figure 8
Total lactic acid bacteria count = TNTC Estimated total lactic acid bacteria count = 1500
High concentrations of gas producing (heterofermentative) When the number of colonies without gas number more than
colonies on the 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plates 300, estimate the count. Determine the average number of
will result in an irregular distribution of many gas bubbles. colonies in two or more representative squares and multiply by
For a more accurate count, further dilution of sample may 30 to obtain the estimated total count per plate. The inoculated
be necessary. area on a 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate is
approximately 30cm2.
For a more accurate count, further dilution of sample may
be necessary.
3
Figure 9 Figure 10
Estimated total lactic acid bacteria count = 250 Estimated total lactic acid bacteria count = 165
When the number of colonies with gas number more than 150, 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plates having
estimate the count. Determine the average number of colonies greater than 150 colonies with and without gas, should be
in two or more representative squares and multiply by 30 estimated. Determine the average number of colonies in
to obtain the estimated total count per plate. The inoculated two or more representative squares and multiply by 30 to obtain
area on a 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate is the estimated total count per plate. The inoculated area on a 3M
approximately 30cm2. Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate is approximately 30cm2.
For a more accurate count, further dilution of sample may For a more accurate count, further dilution of sample may
be necessary. be necessary.
Figure 11 Figure 12
Total lactic acid bacteria count: 41 Total lactic acid bacteria count: 4
Homofermentative: 13 Heterofermentative count: 28 Homofermentative count: 1 Heterofermentative count: 3
3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate is able to Food particles (Circle 1) are irregularly shaped or filamentous.
differentiate homofermentative lactic acid bacteria from Do not enumerate food particles. Artifact bubbles may result
heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria. Heterofermentative from improper inoculation of the 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid
lactic acid bacteria (Circle 2) are defined as colonies that Bacteria Count Plate or from trapped air within the sample.
are red and closely associated (within one colony diameter) They are irregularly shaped and not associated with a red
with entrapped gas. Red colonies without gas (Circle 1) are colony. Do not enumerate artifact bubbles.
defined as homofermentative lactic acid bacteria.
4
Reminders For Use
Storage Inoculation
Acid Bacteria
Petrifilm Lactic
™
-20 to 8°C
Store the unopened 3M Petrifilm Lactic Seal by folding the end of the pouch over Place the 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid
1 Acid Bacteria Count Plate pouches at 2 and applying adhesive tape. To prevent 3 Bacteria Count Plate on a level surface.
frozen or refrigerated temperature equal exposure to moisture, do not refrigerate Lift the top film and, with the pipette
to -20 to 8°C (-4 to 46°F). Use before opened pouches. Store sealed pouches perpendicular to the inoculation area,
expiration date on package. It is best to in a cool dry place (20–25°C/<60% RH) dispense 1mL of sample suspension onto
allow pouches to reach room temperature or in a freezer < -15°C (5°F) for no longer the center of the bottom film.
before opening. than four weeks.
Incubation
Roll the top film down onto the sample to prevent trapping air bubbles. Place the 3M™ Petrifilm™ Incubate plates with clear sides up in
4 Flat Spreader (catalog #6425) on the center of the 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count 5 stacks of no more than 20. Incubate the
Plate. Press gently on the center of the 3M Petrifilm Flat Spreader to distribute the sample 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count
Printed Colors – Front:
evenly. Remove the 3M Petrifilm Flat Spreader and leave the 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Plates for 48h ± 3h at 28–37°C. Please
Count Plate undisturbed for at least one minute to permit the gel to form. Requester: refer
Susan Barkerto the product instructions for third
Creator: party validated methods.
deZinnia_21849
File Name: Petrifilm_21849-07_FS.ai Scale:
Structure #: Illustration 1 Inch
Date: 04/17/17
This artwork has been created as requested by 3M. 3M is responsible for the artwork
Interpretation
AS APPROVED and assumes full responsibility for its correctness.
Use Appropriate
Sterile Diluents
Butterfield's phosphate-buffered
dilution water, buffered peptone
water, 0.1% peptone water, saline
(0.85–0.90%), letheen broth, modified
letheen broth or peptone salt diluent
(Maximum Recovery Diluent).
The 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria Do not use diluents containing citrate
6 Count Plates can be counted using 7 are defined as colonies that are red and or thiosulfate with the 3M Petrifilm
a standard colony counter or other closely associated (within one colony Lactic Acid Bacteria Plates; they can
illuminated magnifier. Count all red diameter) with entrapped gas. Red inhibit growth.
colonies regardless of size or intensity. colonies without gas are defined as
Do not count colonies on the dam since homofermentative lactic acid bacteria.
they are removed from the selective
influence of the medium.
Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate 5
Bubbles
The illustrations below show examples of various bubble patterns
associated with gas producing colonies. It is possible to see more than
one bubble pattern on one 3M Petrifilm Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate.
Images below should be enumerated as one colony.
Images below should be enumerated as two colonies.
3M Food Safety offers a full line of
products to accomplish a variety of
your microbial testing needs. For
more product information, visit us
at 3M.com/foodsafety/Petrifilm or
call 1-800-328-6553.
User’s Responsibilities: 3M Petrifilm Plate performance has not been evaluated with all combinations
of microbial flora, incubation conditions and food matrices. It is the user’s responsibility to determine
that any test methods and results meet the user’s requirements. Should re-printing of this Interpretation
Guide be necessary, user’s print settings may impact picture and color quality.
3M Food Safety 3M Canada For detailed CAUTIONS, DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES/LIMITED REMEDY
3M Center, Building 275-5W-05 Post Office Box 5757 and LIMITATION OF 3M LIABILITY, STORAGE AND DISPOSAL information
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 USA London, Ontario N6A 4T1 and INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE, see Product’s package insert.
Canada 3M and Petrifilm are trademarks of 3M. Used under license in Canada.
1-800-328-6553 Please recycle. Printed in USA. © 3M 2017. All rights reserved.
3M.com/foodsafety 1-800-364-3577 70-2011-5105-0 (Rev-0917)
Lactic Acid Bacteria Count Plate 6
