Abstract: OBJECTIVE To investigate the differences between flow cytometry(FCM) and plate counting method on detecting the spore count in viable organism preparation of Bacillus licheniformis (tablet, granule and capsule). METHODS BD FACSMicroCount analytical system and plate counting method respectively were used to survey and evaluate the spore count in viable organism capsule of Bacillus licheniformis, which were treated by different water bath temperature or by different water bath time. The methods of above-mentioned were applied to detect the spore count in three viable organism preparation of Bacillus licheniformis (tablet, granule and capsule), at the same time. RESULTS There were no significant differences between FCM and plate counting method, with regard to detect the spore count in viable organism capsule of Bacillus licheniformis which were treated by different water bath temperature or by different water bath time. And there were no significant differences in viable count, spore count and sporulation efficiency of three viable organism preparation of Bacillus licheniformis (tablet, granule and capsule), which were detected by above-mentioned methods. CONCLUSION There are no significant differences between FCM and plate counting method, with regard to detect the viable count, spore count and sporulation efficiency of three viable organism preparation of Bacillus licheniformis (tablet, granule and capsule).