A simple, fast and inexpensive kinetic method to differentiate between total and viable bacteria using Coulter counter technique.

A new kinetic approach is described using Coulter Counter technique to differentiate between viable and total counts in bacterial cultures (E. coli) inhibited by chemotherapeutics (trimethoprim, tetracycline, and a nitrofurane derivative, 2,4-diamino-6-(5-nitrofuryl-2)-5-ethylpyrimidine (HN 32). The results are compared with data obtained by plate count technique.