1. What is Cell Dilution?

Cell dilution is the process of reducing the concentration of cells in a solution by adding more solvent. It's a fundamental technique in cell culture and microbiology.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the basic dilution formula:

Where:

• Initial Concentration — Starting cell concentration (cells/mL)
• Dilution Factor — The fold dilution being performed

Explanation: The formula calculates the new concentration after a known dilution is applied to the original cell suspension.

3. Importance of Cell Dilution

Details: Proper cell dilution is crucial for accurate cell counting, plating efficiency experiments, and preparing cells for various assays at optimal concentrations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the initial cell concentration in cells/mL and the dilution factor (e.g., for a 1:10 dilution, enter 0.1). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between dilution factor and fold dilution?
A: The dilution factor is the ratio of final volume to aliquot volume (e.g., 0.01 for 1:100), while fold dilution is the inverse (100x for 1:100).

Q2: How do I calculate serial dilutions?
A: For serial dilutions, multiply the dilution factors of each step. For example, three 1:10 dilutions give a total 1:1000 dilution.

Q3: What's the best way to mix cells before dilution?
A: Gently pipette up and down or vortex briefly to ensure even cell distribution before making dilutions.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically precise, but actual results depend on accurate initial counts and proper mixing technique.

Q5: Can I use this for bacterial cultures?
A: Yes, the same principle applies to diluting any cell type including bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells.