This International Standard specifies a method for enumeration of the total aerobic colony count of microorganisms at 30ºC by means of a surface enumeration technique. The method is applicable to

- products intended for human consumption or for animal feeding stuffs

- environmental samples in the area of food production and food handling

This technique is recommended when the organisms present in the sample are mainly expected to be obligately aerobic, psychrophilic or likely to be damaged by the temperature of molten agar, for example in refrigerated foods. It may also be used for intensely coloured food products. The technique enables colony morphology to be clearly seen.

This method also describes the use of a spiral plater, an accurate and rapid method of performing surface colony counts.