Cell counting Which would give you a more accurate estimate

Cell counting Which would give you a more accurate estimate of cell #/volume, a hemacytometer or a plate count method, and why? 1 or 2 sentences is sufficient. Which would you use if you were interest in viable (living) cells only?

Solution

A.If one needs to count the total number of cells per volume irrespective of dead or living, hemocytometer is used.The disadvantage is that the solution must be diluted so that it would be easy to count the cells. But diluting the solution would result in error and less accurate results. If you want to count only viable cells then plate count is used.

B. If we are interested in counting the number of viable cells only, then plate count method is used. Only the viable/living cells form colonies and non living cells fail to form colonies on the plate.