The Public Health Service recommends a standard of not more than 100 colonies per utensil, or surface area of equipment swabbed. Though this standard does not take into consideration the types of microorganisms present or their public health significance, it does offer a general index of utensil and equipment sanitation. When counts from a particular establishment are frequently or consistently in excess of the standard, improvement of its washing, sanitizing, handling, and/or storage practices is usually indicated. For equipment on which five areas of approximately 8 sq. in. each have been swabbed, residual bacterial counts not exceeding 500 are satisfactory.