The guideline for enumeration tests described hereafter will allow quantitative enumeration of mesophilic bacteria and fungi. These tests are designed to establish compliance to raw material, manufacturing intermediate and finished product microbiological specifications. These are not applicable for evaluation of raw materials or finished product that, by design, contain viable microorganisms or for detection and enumeration of specific microbial contaminants requiring unique conditions of culture (alkali- or acidophiles, xerophiles, halophiles, anaerobes, thermophiles, etc.) or materials requiring special handling (dyes, pigments, materials not soluble or dispersible in aqueous media).