Methods for determination of bacteria in samples

A method for calibrating a bacterial detection method, comprising

• (a) counting bacteria from a biological sample using a glass slide method to obtain a reference count,
• (b) culturing bacteria from a portion of the biological sample on a first plate;
• (c) counting the bacteria on the first plate;
• (d) collecting a first plate sample from the first plate having a first predetermined quantity of bacteria;
• (e) analyzing the first plate sample in a high precision analysis method for determining an amount of bacteria in the first plate sample,
• (f) correlating the amount of bacteria determined in step (e) to an amount of bacteria in the plate sample determined in step (c), and
• (g) comparing the amount of bacteria in the first plate sample to the amount of bacteria in the reference count.