total cell count

to·tal cell count

number of cells in a given area or volume.

total cell count

the total number of living or dead cells in a given volume or area. For MICROORGANISMS the term is generally applied to BACTERIA, SPORES or YEASTS. The count can be made directly by microscopy (see HAEMOCYTOMETRY or by use of an instrument such as a turbidimeter (see TURBIDIMETRY), COULTER COUNTER or flow cytometer (see FLOW CYTOMETRY).