my $dbhq = DBI->connect('DBI:mysql:TEST') or die "Couldn't connect to database: " . DBI->errstr;

$sqlq = "SELECT COUNT(*) As Total FROM TEST";
$sthq = $dbhq->prepare($sqlq) or die "preparing: ",$dbhq->errstr;
$sthq->execute or die "executing: ", $dbhq->errstr;
$rowq = $sthq->fetchrow_hashref;
$total = $rowq->{'Total'};
$sthq->finish;
$dbhq->disconnect;
print "$total";