Qualitative and Quantitative Methods for the Detection of Microbes

Abstract

Microorganisms significantly influence human activities, health, and consequently, there is a high demand to develop automated, sensitive, and rapid methods for their detection. These methods might be applicable for clinical, industrial and environmental applications. Although different techniques have been suggested and employed for the detection of microorganisms, most of these methods are not cost-effective and suffer from low sensitivity and low specificity, especially in mixed samples. The next generation microbiological analysis is progressed swiftly due to its numerous advantages such as sensitivity, reproducibility, accuracy, low cost and rapidity. Although, conventional culture and analytical methods are frequently used for microbiological examination in terms of their easily accessible, advanced methods provide improving its selectivity and sensitivity. Different types of qualitative and quantitative methods are used for microbial detection in samples. The most common methods used for the detection of microbes are morphological, chromogenic media, microscopy, biochemical, colorimetric, spectrophotometric analysis, molecular, dd PCR (Digital Droplet Polymerase Chain Reaction), etc. A variety of qualitative and quantitative techniques used for the determination of both commonly and rarely emerged microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Acinetobacter, Rothia, Pantoea, Cryptococcus, Bacillus, Micrococcus etc. The main results based on some qualitative and quantitative techniques used for microbial detection in different water samples. The application of detection and quantification methods is often hindered by the low pathogen concentrations in natural waters. Rapid and efficient sample concentration methods are urgently needed.