Turbidity assays are typically performed using a spectrophotometer or a turbidimeter. The instrument measures the amount of light transmitted through the sample, and the resulting data is often reported as optical density (OD) or absorbance units.
The turbidity assay can be used in various applications, such as:
Microbial Growth Measurement: In microbiology, turbidity assays are widely used to monitor the growth of microorganisms in liquid culture. As bacteria or yeast cells multiply, the culture becomes cloudier, resulting in increased turbidity readings. These measurements are helpful in determining growth rates, studying antimicrobial susceptibility, or evaluating the effectiveness of disinfectants.
Protein Aggregation Studies: Turbidity assays can be utilized to monitor protein aggregation and precipitation. In the presence of aggregated proteins, the solution becomes turbid due to light scattering. This method is valuable for investigating protein stability, folding, and aggregation processes.
