What does CFU stand for?

What does CFU stand for?

• A. Colony Forming Unit
• B. Colony Forming Unit Count
• C. Cell Forming Unit
• D. Culture Forming Unit

Answer: (A)

In microbiology, CFU stands for Colony Forming Unit. It’s a unit used to estimate the number of viable cells in a sample by counting colonies that grow on a plate; each colony is assumed to originate from a single viable cell (or a small cluster) that was able to multiply. The word “forming” emphasizes the ability to produce a colony, which distinguishes CFUs from simply counting cells that may be dead or unable to grow. The other phrases mix up the terminology—using “cell” instead of “colony,” or “culture” instead of the visible colony—so they don’t reflect the standard meaning of CFU.

In microbiology, CFU stands for Colony Forming Unit. It’s a unit used to estimate the number of viable cells in a sample by counting colonies that grow on a plate; each colony is assumed to originate from a single viable cell (or a small cluster) that was able to multiply. The word “forming” emphasizes the ability to produce a colony, which distinguishes CFUs from simply counting cells that may be dead or unable to grow. The other phrases mix up the terminology—using “cell” instead of “colony,” or “culture” instead of the visible colony—so they don’t reflect the standard meaning of CFU.