INTRODUCTION

Several chapters interface: linking together on topics and necessarily using a set of terms specific to microbiology and endotoxin analysis. An artificer of microbiology seeking clarity and understanding of the meaning of a particular term requires a single source glossary, including associated definitions of terms. The terms and their definitions are listed in this chapter. For simplicity, all definitions are as concise as feasible and aligned as far as possible with other standard and industry group definitions. However, each definition necessarily fulfills the meaning of the term as used in the USP microbiological chapters. Some critical definitions of terms are accompanied with additional explanatory notes.