Description
Compare two recorded colony-counter counts.
Microbiology records distinguish experimental roles, unread plates, detected/nondetected results and reporting limits. Logarithmic and linear count-like quantities use different scales, while dilution fractions describe explicit mathematical factors. None of these labels or local conversions verifies an organism, assay, culture condition or safe laboratory procedure.
Compare two recorded colony-counter counts.
When to use this tool
Use Colony Counter Count Pair Difference when you already have firstCount, secondCount and need to compare two recorded colony-counter counts.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter firstCount, secondCount. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read secondMinusFirst, absoluteDifference. Use the output convention below.
Require nonnegative safe whole first/second counts; return second-first and its absolute magnitude.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| firstCount | First Count | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| secondCount | Second Count | Required. Safe integer; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| secondMinusFirst | Second Minus First | Required. Safe integer. |
| absoluteDifference | Absolute Difference | Required. Safe integer. |
{
"input": {
"firstCount": 42,
"secondCount": 46
},
"output": {
"secondMinusFirst": 4,
"absoluteDifference": 4
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- No colonies are counted or classified and no precision, identity, contamination or clinical interpretation is assessed.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Review actual laboratory observations, control records, reporting basis and the complete analytical method for substantive interpretation. Keep unread and censored states distinct from exact results; supplied dilution or log conversions do not validate the underlying assay.
References
Similar or alternative tools
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