Determination of growth of aquatic bacteria by measurements of incorporation of tritiated thymidine.

Evaluation was made of a novel technique, combining semi-continuous culture on membrane filters and assessment of the incorporation of titrated thymidine. The optimal temperature of incubation is 20--25 degrees, the period of incubation--3 hours; the initial activity of tritiated thymidine--0.5 muC/ml. There is a linear relation between the initial number of bacteria on a filter and the level of 3H-thymidine incorporation. The incorporation is dependent on nutrient content in the examined water.