Serial Dilution Calculator
Plan a serial dilution series by entering the initial concentration, dilution factor, number of steps, and volume per dilution. Get concentrations at each step, the total dilution factor, and detailed volume transfer instructions.
Serial dilution is a technique where a solution is progressively diluted in equal steps, each time by the same dilution factor. It is fundamental in microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, and analytical chemistry.
How Serial Dilution Works:
At each step, a small volume of the previous solution is transferred to a new tube containing diluent. For a 1:10 serial dilution with 10 mL total volume: transfer 1 mL of stock to 9 mL of diluent. Then transfer 1 mL of that mixture to another 9 mL of diluent, and so on.
Key Formulas:
- Concentration at step n: C_n = C_0 / (factor^n)
- Total dilution factor: factor^n
- Volume of stock per step: V_total / dilution_factor
- Volume of diluent per step: V_total - V_stock
Applications:
Serial dilutions are used to create standard curves for assays, determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of antibiotics, perform antibody titer measurements, and prepare calibration standards for instruments. The geometric progression of concentrations is ideal for spanning several orders of magnitude.