Minimum inhibitory concentration
Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) (English MIC for Minimal Inhibitory Concentration ) is a term from biology. It refers to the lowest concentration of a substance, in which the multiplication of microorganisms can not be perceived with the naked eye.
The MIC is determined by a so-called Titerverfahren.
Usually the concentration of an antibiotic is determined which just inhibits growth of a bacterial strain. The MIC is in micrograms per milliliter ( g / ml ) given (usually in log2 steps ) that checked for quality control seeding density of bacteria is measured in colony forming units per milliliter ( CFU / ml).
For example, the MIC50 is the lowest concentration of a substance which inhibits the growth of at least 50% of the strains tested.
Antibiotics may be further characterized on the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC ).
- Microbiological test method