Estimation of the most probable number with a programable pocket calculator

The most-probable-number method has many potential applications, particularly if many tubes per dilution and many dilution levels are used. Increasing the number of cultures is possible with modern automatic and semiautomatic equipment. However, available tables are not sufficiently detailed to handle data from a large number of culture tubes used in an assay. This paper provides a computer program capable of handling the necessary arithmetic and written for a hand-held, advanced programable calculator.