In order to count lactic acid bacteria in living lactic acid bacteria products accurately, we substituted the aerobic culture method adopted in present national standard in China with CO 2 method ( removing oxygen from an airtight container by burning of candle). In bacterial strain comparison experiments, the counting result of lactic acid bacteria by CO 2 method was 8 times more than that by aerobic culture method. In sample comparison experiments, the counting result of lactic acid bacteria by CO 2 method was 20 times more than that by aerobic culture method. The result suggested that the CO 2 method better than aerobic culture method with its simplicity, rapidity and accuracy.