Description
Convert a supplied microbial count between linear and base-ten logarithmic values.
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.
Convert a supplied microbial count between linear and base-ten logarithmic values.
When to use this tool
Use Microbial Count Log Unit Crosswalk when you already have value, direction and need to convert a supplied microbial count between linear and base-ten logarithmic values.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter value, direction. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read converted. Use the output convention below.
Require an allowed direction and a positive value for linear-to-log10; use log10(value) or 10^value. Reject nonpositive underflow in the reverse direction and any nonfinite output.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| value | Value | Required. Finite number. |
| direction | Select log10 from a strictly positive linear count, or 10^value from log10. Reverse conversion rejects underflow to zero. | Required. Text; one of "linear-to-log10", "log10-to-linear"; maximum UTF-16 length 8192. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| converted | Converted | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"value": 1000,
"direction": "linear-to-log10"
},
"output": {
"converted": 3
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- The input may represent a continuous count-like estimate; no organism, viable count, assay validity or detection threshold is established.
- 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
- Microbiology Dilution Label Token
Label and calculate a supplied radix-power dilution fraction.
- Mape Absolute Vs Signed Actual Policy
Calculate one absolute prediction error under a chosen actual-value denominator convention.