Enumerating viable phytoplankton using a culture-based Most Probable Number assay following ultraviolet-C treatment

Ballast water management systems (BWMS) must be tested to assess their compliance with standards for the discharge of organisms, for example in the ≥ 10- and 80% of cases, long before the assays were terminated. We conclude that the SDC-MPN assay as described is robust and adaptable for use on natural phytoplankton.