Correct count from group by query

Hi,
Is it possible to get correct count of rows from query with group by? I am using db service connected to MySQL. Now it returns ‘standard’ count before grouping rows.
When I wnat to get correct count in mysql ,than I use:

SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS t3.id, a,bunch,of,other,stuff FROM t1, t2, t3
WHERE (associate t1,t2, and t3 with each other)
GROUP BY t3.id ;
SELECT FOUND_ROWS();

or

SELECT COUNT(*)
FROM(SELECT DISTINCT component
FROM multiple_sample_assay_abc
WHERE labref = ‘NDQA201303001’)

Thank for advices.
Rado.