An integrated culture and real-time PCR method to assess viability of disinfectant treated Bacillus spores using robotics and the MPN quantification method.

Using robotics and the MPN technique, a 96-microwell method was developed to compare two procedures for enumeration of viable chlorine-treated B. atrophaeus spores: broth-culture enrichment followed by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis; and filter plating on agar. Recoveries of chlorine-treated spores were improved by broth enrichment over filter plating, whereas recoveries of non-treated spores were not different in the two procedures.