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Log Reduction Calculation

Microbiologists use scientific notation and logarithmic scales to express large numbers of microorganisms and magnitude of changes in cell numbers. A log reduction refers to the change in microbial load expressed in logarithmic scale. There is a direct relationship between log reduction and percent reduction - a 1 log reduction equals a 90% reduction, a 2 log reduction equals a 99% reduction, and so on. Formulas are provided to convert between log reduction and percent reduction.

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713 views

Log Reduction Calculation

Microbiologists use scientific notation and logarithmic scales to express large numbers of microorganisms and magnitude of changes in cell numbers. A log reduction refers to the change in microbial load expressed in logarithmic scale. There is a direct relationship between log reduction and percent reduction - a 1 log reduction equals a 90% reduction, a 2 log reduction equals a 99% reduction, and so on. Formulas are provided to convert between log reduction and percent reduction.

Uploaded by

k.p.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The number of viable microorganisms present at a given time in a microbiology experiment can

range greatly. For example, 100 million viable cells can quickly become zero viable cells in
manydisinfectant tests.

To keep the individual numbers manageable, microbiologists usually express them using scientific
notation.

Similarly, when calculating the magnitute of the change in cell number, microbiologists often use a
logarithmic scale (log scale). Simply speaking, taking the log value of a large number, such as the
number of cells killed in a disinfectant test, transforms it into a smaller one that is easier to work with.

Understandably, this "scientist shorthand" often prompts questions concerning how to translate log
reductions to percent reductions and vice versa.

A series of true mathematical statements showing a pattern is presented below. If you can identify
the pattern, then you are well on your way to understanding the relationship between log reduction
and percent reduction.

 1 log reduction = 90% reduction


 2 log reduction = 99% reduction
 3 log reduction = 99.9% reduction
 4 log reduction = 99.99% reduction
 5 log reduction = 99.999% reduction
 6 log reduction = 99.9999% reduction

As the series demonstrates, if a log reduction is a whole integer, then its numerical value equals the
number of nines in the percent reduction figure.

So, if you get a study report from our lab indicating a 2.5 log reduction, then you know it corresponds
to a percent reduction somewhere between 99% and 99.9%. However, because of the way log
scales work, a 2.5 log reduction does not equal a 99.5% reduction.

For the more mathematically minded, formulas are presented below for percent reduction
calculations, log reduction calculations, and finally a formula is presented which will allow people to
go back and forth between the two.

Percent Reduction Calculation


Log Reduction Calculation

Formula to Convert Log Reduction to Percent Reduction

Formula to Convert Percent Reduction to Log Reduction

Some More Math for the Nerds*


Microbial load (cfu/g or cfu/ml) can be expressed as log10. So, if you have 100,000 microbes that is
5 log, 10,000 microbes is 4 log, 1,000 is 3 log, 100 microbes is 2 log and 10 microbes is 1 log. Now,
if you went from 100,000 microbes cfu/g to 10,000 microbes cfu/g that would be a 1 log reduction (5
- 4 log). If you went from 100,000 to 32,000 that would be a 0.5 log reduction (5 - 4.5 log) and so on.
I hope this helps St John Hall

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