Application of impediometry to rapid assessment of liquid culture media.

The impedance method provides as unique opportunity to determine microbial activity and kinetics. Since the metabolic processes depend on the nature and quality of the culture medium, impediometry allows the assessment of liquid culture media. Impedance microbiology represents an approach to quantitative microbiology. We investigated the influence of pH, composition and variation of the amounts of industrially made dry media, overheating during the dissolving or sterilisation processes, and qualitative differences between batches of the same culture medium. Using glucose broth as an example, we showed that impediometry allows quantitative, microbial assessment of culture media. Inaccurate preparation of the culture medium could be detected quickly by the use of impediometry. The method is very simple to perform, requires no sample preparation, allows rapid assessment of liquid culture media, and interprets results automatically with the aid of a microcomputer.