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Aerobic Plate Count
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Summary
Aerobic Plate Count (APC) is a microbiological test used to measure the total number of viable aerobic bacteria in cosmetic products. The test is commonly used for cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Manufacturers use APC testing to quantify microbial load using standardized plate count method. Aerobic Plate Count helps to detect microbial contamination to ensure product safety, formulation stability, and consistent quality before market release.
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Quick understanding about test
Aerobic Plate Count - Measurement of Mesophilic Aerobic Bacteria in a given sample
The Aerobic Plate Count (APC) test estimates the number of viable mesophilic aerobic bacteria in a given sample using the plate count method.
The test applies to various sectors such as food, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and cosmetics.
- Mesophilic aerobic bacteria are the target strains tested.
- The test involves preparing and homogenizing the sample, serially diluting it, and plating it on an agar medium. The plates are incubated, after which bacterial colonies are counted to measure the viable aerobic bacteria in the sample.
- Detects and quantifies bacterial contamination.
- Builds trust through verified safety claims.
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What Is Aerobic Plate Count?
The Aerobic Plate Count (APC) is a widely used microbiological technique to determine the number of viable aerobic microorganisms present in a sample. Also referred to as the standard plate count, aerobic mesophilic count, total plate count, or aerobic colony count, this method plays a critical role in validating product quality across various industries.
Globally, regulatory bodies, including the U.S. FDA and European authorities, often require aerobic plate count data as part of routine quality control and product approval processes.
Application of APC in various Industries
APC testing provides an overall measure of viable aerobic microorganisms, helping identify microbial contamination levels in products and manufacturing environments.
- Cosmetics & personal care: APC testing ensures products do not contain harmful levels of bacteria, helping protect consumers from skin irritation, infections, and other health risks.
- Pharmaceuticals: APC is critical for verifying microbial control, supporting sterile or low-bioburden manufacturing, and ensuring compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
- Food industry: APC is used to detect microbial contamination that may affect food safety, shelf life, and overall product quality and integrity.
Sample Types We Test
We perform Aerobic Plate Count testing on cosmetic, personal care, and pharmaceutical products, including both finished and semi-finished formulations.
Aerobic Plate Count Test Method
- Test samples are prepared based on the type of food products (frozen, chilled, pre-cooked, or prepared foods) or cosmetics products (Liquids, Solids and powders, cream and oil-based products, Aerosol of powders, soap, liquids, and other materials, Anhydrous materials).
- A homogenized solution containing the test sample is serially diluted 10 times (10-1 to 10-10).
- 0.1 ml of each dilution is transferred and plated on different Petri dishes containing agar growth medium.
- Plates are incubated at 35ยฐC ยฑ 1ยฐC for 48 ยฑ 2 hours.
- After incubation, the plates are examined for the presence of aerobic bacteria.
Why Aerobic Plate Count Testing Is Important
The APC test is a key quality assurance tool that helps demonstrate product safety, maintain brand credibility, and achieve regulatory compliance. It provides early detection of microbial contamination, reducing the risk of recalls or product failures. By identifying spoilage organisms, the test also supports longer shelf life and consistent product performance. Most importantly, APC results are often required by regulatory bodies such as the FDA and EU authorities, making it an essential step in launching and maintaining products in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics markets.
Aerobic plate count vs other test methods
Parameter | Aerobic Plate Count (APC) | USP 61 (Microbial Enumeration Test) | ISO 21149 (Aerobic Mesophilic Bacteria) |
What it measures | Total viable aerobic bacteria present (general indicator) | Total Aerobic Microbial Count (TAMC) and Total Yeast and Mold Count (TYMC) | Aerobic mesophilic bacteria (bacterial count only) |
Identified microorganisms | Mesophilic aerobic bacteria (no differentiation) | Aerobic bacteria, yeasts and molds (separate counts) | Aerobic mesophilic bacteria (quantitative) |
Scope of products | Broad quality indicator for hygiene, spoilage, contamination across sectors (foods, cosmetics, pharma) | Nonโsterile products including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, personal care | Cosmetic products (creams, lotions, etc.) |
Method principle | Serial dilution & plating โ incubate โ count CFU | Dilution/neutralization โ membrane filtration or plate count โ incubate โ count CFU for TAMC + TYMC | Plate count, membrane filtration or enrichment โ incubate โ count CFU |
Result reporting | CFU /g or CFU /mL viable bacteria | CFU /g or CFU /mL for both TAMC and TYMC | CFU /g or CFU /mL aerobic bacteria |
Typical incubation | ~48 h at ~35 ยฐC | TAMC- ~3โ5 days at 30โ35 ยฐC TYMC – ~5โ7 days at lower temp | ~72 h at 32.5 ยฐC ยฑ 2.5 ยฐC |
Regulatory context | General quality indicator, often part of specifications | Pharmacopeial standard used globally, often required for regulatory compliance of nonโsterile products | International standard outlining bacterial enumeration for cosmetics |
Pros of Aerobic Plate Count (APC) Test
- Simple and cost-effective: APC is a simple and cost-effective method to assess microbial count as it does not require sophisticated instruments.
- Quantitative data: Provides a direct count of viable aerobic bacteria offering quantitative data on microbial load.
- Broad application: Applicable to a wide range of product types including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, food and water samples.
- Hygiene assessment: Serves as an indicator of the general hygiene and sanitary conditions of the sample and the environment from which it was collected.
- Regulatory compliance: Testing is often mandated by regulatory authorities to obtain compliance.
Why Choose Our Microbiology Lab
At Microbe Investigations Switzerland (MIS), we specialize in advanced microbiological testing to help companies meet global safety and regulatory standards. We provide Aerobic Plate Count testing with precise, dependable results that strengthen product development, ensure quality, and keep you compliant with global standards.
Whether youโre launching a new cosmetic or ensuring the sterility of a pharmaceutical product our expert team delivers the scientific insights you need.
Get a quote for Aerobic Plate Count
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Frequently Asked Questions
DR. Martinoz Scholtz
APC can be performed on cosmetics and personal care products, pharmaceuticals, raw materials, packaging, water, environmental swabs, food and beverages, and manufacturing surfaces.
Results are reported as colony forming units per gram (CFU/g), milliliter (CFU/mL), or per surface area.
The Aerobic Plate Count test takes one week to complete.
A high APC may indicate poor microbiological quality and may indicate raw material contamination, inadequate sanitation, ineffective preservation, or risk of reduced shelf life and product spoilage.
Plates exceeding the countable range are discarded because they have too many colonies to accurately distinguish and count individually. Counting those plates can lead to unreliable or misleading colony-forming unit (CFU) results.
No. APC provides a general measure of total aerobic microbial load and does not identify or differentiate specific pathogens. For detecting specific microorganisms, USP <62> test for specified microorganisms can be performed.
Acceptable limits vary by product type and applicable regulations or standards. Foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals each have defined microbiological limits set by regulatory authorities, pharmacopoeias, or industry guidelines.
Incubation conditions directly influence which microorganisms grow. Changes in temperature or incubation duration can alter colony recovery, potentially underestimating or overestimating microbial load.
The Aerobic Plate Count for Cosmetics industry as it detects microbial contamination that could compromise product safety and consumer health. It also helps meet FDA and EU regulatory requirements for microbiological quality in cosmetics.
Yes. APC testing is commonly required or referenced in food safety regulations, cosmetic microbiological guidelines, and pharmaceutical standards as part of routine quality control, hygiene monitoring, and GMP compliance.
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