What are cells/mL vs total/mL

BactoBox® reports two concentrations: cells/mL and total/mL. Here is how to read them on the Results screen.

This is what you usually see after a measurement.

After a measurement, BactoBox® shows you two concentrations: a cells/mL count, out of a total/mL count. Below them is the measurement ID, so you can match the result to your sample. Write both numbers down, as they disappear once you start the next action.

What the two numbers mean

BactoBox® counts and classifies the individual particles in your sample vial. Gating sorts them into two categories: cells and other. Together, cells and other give total.

Cells plus other particles add up to total.

So cells/mL is the bacteria, and total/mL is everything BactoBox® counted. We do not show other/mL on the Results screen. You find it in summary.csv (see summary.csv).

Category names follow gating

The category names follow the gating. The screen above uses the BacTotal_v2024-10 gating, so it reads cells/ml and total/ml, with the gating named at the bottom. Other gating settings use other names, such as intact cells, custom cells, and total particles. See Gating for how BactoBox® decides what counts as a cell.

See also

BactoBox® gives a trustworthy result only within a certain concentration range. Below or above it, the numbers get unreliable.

Limit of detection