Methods for counting the number of living microorganisms contained in a specimen sample and apparatuses for implementing such methods

An apparatus for counting the number of living microorganisms contained in a specimen sample comprising said living microorganisms in a liquid medium, the apparatus comprising:

• a tray for supporting at least a first substrate;
• a container configured to receive a volume of said specimen sample;
• a drop deposition motor configured to push the specimen sample out of the container to form drops of a predetermined volume that detach by gravity and fall on said at least first substrate;
• at least one guiding motor configured for changing a relative position of the tray and the container;
• and
• a control unit configured to synchronize the drop deposition motor and the at least one guiding motor in order to deposit drops on said at least first substrate according to a pattern.

A method for counting the number of living microorganisms contained in a specimen sample comprising said living microorganisms in a liquid medium, wherein the method comprises:

• filling a container with a volume of said specimen sample;
• pushing the specimen sample out of the container to produce drops of a predetermined volume that detach by gravity and fall on at least a first substrate;
• moving the container relatively to the substrate synchronously with pushing the specimen out of the container to produce at least a first plurality of said drops on said at least first substrate;
• and
• after a predetermined incubation period, determining an initial concentration (C) of living microorganisms in the specimen sample from the colonies of living microorganisms developed on said at least first substrate.