Index of the heat resistance of a microbial species. Normally the lowest temperature which, applied to a standard suspension of the organisms under moist conditions, causes their death in 10 minutes. The thermal death point of the non-sporing mesophilic bacteria may lie between 50°and 65°C, and between 100°and 120°C for most spore-bearers. Using dry heat the TDP of the tatter will lie between 140°and 180°C.
The temperature required to kill all of the organisms in a culture in a specified time.
In bacteriology, the degree of heat that will kill organisms in a fluid culture in 10 min.