<img alt="" src="https://secure.inventiveperception365.com/789096.png" style="display:none;">

Automated Colony Counting in QC Microbiology

Improving accuracy, reproducibility, and data integrity.

Colony counting is a critical step in QC microbiology, yet it remains one of the most variable aspects of microbial enumeration. Manual CFU counting is influenced by colony size, contrast, growth patterns, plate conditions, and the physiological limits of human vision—often leading to inconsistent results, undercounting, or discrepancies between analysts, even when standardized procedures are followed.

This on-demand webinar explains why colony counting variability occurs, how regulators evaluate these risks during inspections, and how automated colony counting systems help laboratories improve counting accuracy, reproducibility, and data integrity while reducing operator-dependent variability.

What you will learn

Why manual colony counting produces variable CFU results
 
How colony morphology, contrast, and human vision impact counting accuracy
 
Common sources of colony counting discrepancies observed during inspections
 
What regulators expect when reviewing colony counting data and controls
 
How automated colony counting improves consistency and traceability
 
Key considerations for selecting, validating, and implementing automated systems in QC labs
 

Watch the webinar

Watch the full on-demand session below for a science-based discussion of colony counting limitations and how automation supports inspection-ready data integrity in pharmaceutical microbiology laboratories.

 

Want to Go Deeper into Data Integrity?

For a practical, inspection-focused breakdown of how automated colony counting supports data integrity in QC microbiology — including validation considerations and real-world lab challenges — read our supporting blog post: Automated Colony Counting: Improving Accuracy and Data Integrity in QC Microbiology

This article expands on the topics covered in the webinar, with additional context on operator variability, electronic records, audit trails, and validation expectations for automated systems.

See If Automated Colony Counting Fits Your QC Lab

Get a guided overview of how automation is evaluated, validated, and implemented in regulated microbiology labs

Request a Walkthrough