Use Cases/Microbiology Colony Counting
Lab Technicians & Quality Control Scientists
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Used by 2,000+ Microbiology Colony Counting teams this month

Precision CFU Counting: Ditch the Clicker, Sync the Lab.

SnapCount replaces outdated manual colony counters and sharpies with a digital, real-time synchronized CFU dashboard, eliminating high inter-rater variability.

No sign-up required • Free to start

System Operational • Last updated: February 2026

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Colony Forming Units (CFU)

Live

Why Lab Technicians & Quality Control Scientists Choose SnapCount

Purpose-built features for microbiology colony counting professionals

Instant Audit Trails

Every CFU count is timestamped, attributed, and logged automatically, providing the robust documentation required for GLP and GMP reporting without manual data entry.

Zero Transcription Errors

Move directly from microscopy to final report without manual data entry, eliminating the common mistake of miskeying results or dilution factors into a spreadsheet.

Synchronized Inter-Rater Reliability

QC managers monitor the live tally of multiple technicians counting the same batch, instantly flagging discrepancies and ensuring high-precision results across the entire lab team.

How to Count Colony Forming Units (CFU) with SnapCount

Get your microbiology colony counting counting session running in three simple steps. No downloads, no sign-ups, no hardware needed.

Step 1

Create a Free Session

Click "Start Counting" and you'll have a live microbiology colony counting counting session in under 30 seconds. No account required — just open your browser on any device and begin tracking colony forming units (cfu), plaque forming units (pfu), positive wells/tubes immediately.

Step 2

Set Up Your Counters

Add as many counters as your microbiology colony counting workflow requires. Label each one to match what you're tracking — whether that's colony forming units (cfu) or plaque forming units (pfu). Share the session link with your team so everyone can contribute counts from their own device.

Step 3

Count Together in Real Time

Every tap syncs instantly across all connected devices. Lab Technicians & Quality Control Scientists can count simultaneously from different locations while the totals update live. When you're done, export your colony forming units (cfu) data to CSV or Excel for reporting and analysis.

The Problem & The Solution

The Frustration of Smudged Dishes and Subjective CFUs

You know the feeling: the cheap clicker jams on the 50th count, or the sharpie ink smears across the Petri dish lid, forcing you to squint and recount an entire quadrant. Getting interrupted mid-count means losing track and introducing immediate human error, creating unnecessary inter-rater variability between shifts or technicians.

This subjectivity is compounded by the tedious manual logging required afterward. A single miscount of 5 Colony Forming Units (CFU) on a critical spread plate, when multiplied by a 10^-6 dilution factor, results in massive discrepancies in the final report. The risk of batch rejection or compromised research integrity simply because of poor physical tools is unacceptable in modern quality control.

⚠️Stop relying on manual colony counters and sharpies and manual counting methods.

SnapCount: The Modern Standard for Aseptic Digital Tallying

SnapCount provides a shared, real-time digital dashboard, allowing multiple lab technicians to count plates from the same batch simultaneously. As soon as a CFU is tallied on one device, the total updates everywhere, providing the QC manager with instant oversight and the ability to spot significant counting discrepancies immediately.

By moving counting directly into a synchronized digital environment, you eliminate transcription errors entirely. Every count is timestamped and attributed to the specific user, providing an immutable audit trail required for rigorous GLP/GMP compliance. Focus on identifying colony morphology, not wrestling with calculators and smudged agar plates.

Get started in seconds — no setup required.

Built for Microbiology Colony Counting Teams

Everything you need to count, track, and analyze colony forming units (cfu), plaque forming units (pfu), positive wells/tubes

Real-Time Sync

Sync microbiology colony counting data across all your devices in real-time. No delays, no conflicts.

Export & Analyze

Export colony forming units (cfu), plaque forming units (pfu), positive wells/tubes counts to Excel or CSV for detailed analysis.

Team Collaboration

Multiple lab technicians & quality control scientists can count simultaneously with live updates.

Instant Setup

No hardware, no installation. Start counting colony forming units (cfu) in under 30 seconds.

How Lab Technicians & Quality Control Scientists Use SnapCount for Microbiology Colony Counting

Lab Technicians & Quality Control Scientists across the microbiology colony counting industry rely on accurate, real-time counting to make informed decisions. Whether you're tracking colony forming units (cfu), plaque forming units (pfu), positive wells/tubes, or managing counts across multiple locations, SnapCount replaces fragmented manual processes with a single collaborative tool. Instead of passing clipboards, shouting numbers, or reconciling spreadsheets at the end of the day, your entire team counts into one shared session that updates instantly.

Traditional methods like manual colony counters and sharpies break down when multiple people need to count at the same time, when counts need to be visible across locations, or when you need a historical record of your data. SnapCount solves all three problems: multiple lab technicians & quality control scientists can tap simultaneously on their own phones or tablets, the running total is visible to everyone in real time, and every count is logged with a timestamp for later review or CSV export.

Getting started takes less than a minute. Create a free session, name your counters to match your microbiology colony counting workflow, and share the link with anyone who needs access. There's nothing to download, no accounts to create for viewers, and the interface works on any device with a web browser. For lab technicians & quality control scientists who need persistent data, team management, or advanced analytics, paid plans unlock additional features while keeping the same simple counting experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about using SnapCount for microbiology colony counting

Can SnapCount handle 'Too Numerous To Count' (TNTC) scenarios?

Yes. Users can quickly mark a plate as TNTC and enter the required estimated count or specific notes, ensuring proper protocol adherence without disrupting the flow of counting other plates in the series.

How does the platform handle complex dilution factors?

SnapCount allows users to input the specific dilution factor (e.g., 10^-5) for each plate or batch upfront. The system automatically calculates the final CFU/mL result in real-time as you count, bypassing manual calculator steps.

Is the data secure for regulated environments like GLP/GMP?

Absolutely. All counting data is timestamped, user-attributed, and stored securely with an immutable audit trail, providing the traceability essential for regulatory compliance and batch release documentation.

Can we use this for training new technicians on colony morphology?

Yes. SnapCount’s shared screen functionality allows senior technicians to observe a trainee's counting process in real-time, providing immediate feedback and ensuring they correctly identify and tally target Colony Forming Units.

Ready to Modernize Your Microbiology Colony Counting Counting?

Join thousands of lab technicians & quality control scientists who have switched from manual colony counters and sharpies to SnapCount.

No credit card required • Works on any device

System Operational • Last updated: February 2026

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