1. What is Serial Dilution?

Serial dilution is a stepwise dilution of a substance in solution, typically using the same dilution factor at each step. It's commonly used in microbiology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry to reduce concentrations of samples in a controlled manner.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the serial dilution formula:

Where:

• \( C_t \) — Final concentration (ng/μL)
• \( C_0 \) — Initial concentration (ng/μL)
• \( DF \) — Dilution factor (unitless)
• \( n \) — Number of dilution steps (unitless)

Explanation: The formula calculates how much the original concentration is reduced after applying a specific dilution factor a certain number of times.

3. Importance of Serial Dilution

Details: Serial dilutions are essential for creating standard curves, determining unknown concentrations, preparing samples within detection limits of instruments, and creating working solutions from stock solutions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the initial concentration in ng/μL, the dilution factor (e.g., 2 for 1:2 dilution), and the number of dilution steps. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's a typical dilution factor?
A: Common dilution factors are 2 (1:2), 5 (1:5), or 10 (1:10), but any factor can be used depending on the experimental needs.

Q2: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise, but actual experimental results may vary due to pipetting errors or solution inhomogeneity.

Q3: Can I use different dilution factors at each step?
A: This calculator assumes the same DF at each step. For variable DFs, you would need to calculate each step individually.

Q4: What if my final concentration is too low?
A: Either reduce the number of steps or use a smaller dilution factor to maintain higher concentrations.

Q5: How does this relate to fold dilution?
A: The dilution factor represents the fold dilution at each step (e.g., DF=2 means 2-fold dilution at each step).