- Total Viable Count (TVC) refers to all aerobic microorganisms present in a sample and does not have specific growth requirements.

- The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulation considers Total Count as one of the release parameters for food (frozen, chilled, precooked, and prepared food), pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical samples.

- A Total Count test is required to verify that a food or beverage sample is free of microbial pathogens to guarantee food safety.
- This non-specific test detects a broad range of pathogens but without direct identification.

1. Advantages of using CompactDry TCR to test TVC levels in water, food, and other products

- The ready-to-use CompactDry TCR (Total Count Rapid) plate is a dehydrated standard nutrient medium plate for total viable bacterial count in food and water.

- Bacterial colonies are coloured red due to the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride redox indicator. Colonies are easy to identify and differentiate from possible food residues.

2. General protocol Compact Dry TCR Total Viable Count Rapid