The relative amounts of the different Lactobacillus species in fecal samples
were calculated after correction for differences in the amplification efficiencies of
the duplex PCR as described previously (16, 24). The total counts of bacteria
(cells per gram of feces) were determined by automated counting of microscopic
images of fluorescently labeled cells. These counts, in combination with the percentages
as determined with the duplex 5 nuclease assays, were subsequently used
to determine the numbers of lactobacilli per gram (wet weight) of feces (16).