Definition: PFU / Plaque-forming units
PFU means plaque-forming unit, a unit used to express infectious viral particles capable of producing lysis plaques in a plaque assay.
AquaVerify
PFU / Plaque-forming units
PFU means plaque-forming unit, a unit used to express infectious viral particles capable of producing lysis plaques in a plaque assay.
Microbiology and indicators
Definition
PFU means plaque-forming unit, a unit used to express infectious viral particles capable of producing lysis plaques in a plaque assay.
Why it matters
Useful for selecting the right method, product family, sampling point, report or traceability workflow in water quality programs.
- Related AquaVerify product: ENUMERA / Kits ISO/EPA
- Related sector: Laboratories
Related resources
Explore technical guides, AquaVerify products, sector applications and authorized support connected with this definition.
- ENUMERA / Kits ISO/EPA Related AquaVerify product
- AquaVerify Cloud Cloud
- Laboratories Related sector
- Open resources Whitepaper
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Related terms
- Adenovirus Adenovirus is an enteric virus that can persist under certain environmental conditions and is used in some contexts as a reference for evaluating viral persistence in water.
- Viable bacteria Viable bacteria are microorganisms capable of remaining alive and, depending on conditions, growing or forming colonies detectable by culture methods.
- Bacteriophage A bacteriophage is a virus that infects specific bacteria and replicates within them. In water quality, bacteriophages are used as viral models or indicators to study fecal contamination, treatment behaviour and microbiological barrier performance.
- Biofilm A biofilm is a microbial community attached to a surface and protected by an extracellular matrix. In water networks it can act as a reservoir of microorganisms and contribute to recontamination.
- Microbial load Microbial load is the level of microorganisms present in a sample or system. It can be expressed in different units depending on the method and organism evaluated.
- Host strain A host strain is the bacterium used as the host to detect or enumerate bacteriophages in culture methods. Its selection is critical for assay sensitivity and result interpretation.
- Total coliforms Total coliforms are a broad group of indicator bacteria that may occur in soil, water or fecal environments. They are used to assess system integrity, treatment effectiveness and possible operational issues.
- F-RNA coliphages F-RNA coliphages are a subgroup of F-specific coliphages with an RNA genome. They can be used in fecal contamination and viral behaviour studies depending on method, matrix and program objective.
FAQ
Why it matters: PFU / Plaque-forming units
Useful for selecting the right method, product family, sampling point, report or traceability workflow in water quality programs.