A colony counter is a device used in microbiology to count the number of colonies that grow on a petri dish. This is important in analyzing the results of experiments or samples that may contain microorganisms, such as bacteria, yeast, or fungi. The device typically consists of a grid or digital display that allows researchers to easily count the number of colonies present on a dish.
Colony counters are available in manual and automated forms. Manual colony counters require the researcher to visually count each colony, while automated colony counters use image analysis software to count and categorize colonies automatically. Automated systems are often faster and more accurate, as they reduce the risk of human error and can analyze a large number of colonies in a shorter amount of time.