Microbial Enumeration & Viability Measurements

This working group will focus on developing standard methods for enumerating whole cell reference materials.

The goal of this working group is to advance measurements and standards for quantifying total and differential microbial cell counts, including viability.

The International Microbiome and Multi'Omics Standards Alliance invites participants to join the Cell Enumeration and Viability (Cell E&V) working group.

·      The working group is a collection of scientists, engineers, and other professionals working collaboratively towards improving the enumeration and viability measurements for microbial samples. The working group welcomes people from academia, industry, government, or other sectors.

·      The group meets once a month, Thursdays at 12 pm ET (10 am MT/9 am PT) and shares documents on Google Drive. 

·      In order to sign up for the working group email list, please join IMMSA and ask to be added to this working group. (Email kirsten.parratt@nist.gov for technical issues)

·      Current co-chairs are: Leka Papazisi (ATCC), Kirsten Parratt (NIST), and Sangeeta Khare (FDA). IMMSA Steering Committee Members: Nancy J. Lin (NIST), Scott Tighe (UVM)

Current activity: An interlaboratory study focused on total cell body enumeration method characterization:

In 2025, the IMMSA-Cell E&V working group is running an interlaboratory study focused on total cell body enumeration method characterization. The goal is to evaluate variability in microbial enumeration across methods and labs, and survey measurement capabilities in the WG; it is not a performance or proficiency test.