6. What are the general characteristics of most probable number (MPN)?

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Question restatement: The query asks for the general characteristics of most probable number (MPN) and provides four statements to evaluate.
Option 1: 'In MPN microbial count is determined based on the amount of generated gas.' This is a common point in some qualitative fast methods, where gas production in Durham tubes indicates growth, but the MPN itself is not determined by measuring the amount of gas produced—it's determined by the pattern of positive/negative results across dilution tubes and the use of probability tables. Therefore, relying on 'amount of generated gas' as the sole basis is an oversimplification and not an accurate general characteristic of MPN.
Option 2: 'In MPN the viable count is estimated using already generated and tabulated results.' This statement hints at using pre-existing MPN tables to translate observed patterns into concentrations. While MPN does rely on tables and probability theory, saying it uses 'already generated and tabulated results' suggests a dependence on precomputed data in a way that can be misleading if read as the sole mechanism. It captures part of the method, but it’s not the most fundamental description of how MPN works.
Option 3: 'The MPN is based on statistical analysis of generated data.' This option captures the core principle: MPN estimates microbial concentration by analyzing the pattern of positive/negative results across serial dilutions and applying statistical principles (probability and distribution) to estimate viable counts. This aligns with the general understanding of MPn as a statistical estimation method rather than a direct, deterministic count.
Option 4: 'The MPN method can use different number of Durham’s tubes.' It is true that MPN protocols can vary in the number of tubes (e.g., 5-tube, 10-tube formats), and such variations exist across methods. However, this describes a procedural flexibility rather than a defining general characteristic of the MPN concept itself. It reflects methodology specifics rather than the underlying principle of how MPN estimates are obtained.
In summary, option 1 overemphasizes gas volume rather than pattern-based inference, option 2 focuses on pre-tabulated results in a way that could misrepresent the method’s core mechanism, option 3 accurately states the foundational principle of MPN as a statistical estimation based on generated data, and option 4 notes procedural variations without addressing the fundamental concept. Hence, the statement that best captures the general characteristic is the one that emphasizes statistical analysis of generated data.

FOOD90023_2025_SM1 Quiz 3

6. What are the general characteristics of most probable number (MPN)?

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