ABSTRACT
Speed of analytical result is often less important than ability to test large numbers of samples, carry out tests “in the field,” or obtain “images” of microbial contamination when there are problems. This chapter will briefly describe techniques that save technical time, compared with traditional methods. Several venerable techniques are remarkably efficient and should not be overlooked if the situation calls for more testing than the laboratory can normally handle, or when unusual problems of contamination have not been pinpointed by conventional methods.
