1. What is Dilution Factor?

The dilution factor (DF) is a ratio that describes how much a solution has been diluted. It's commonly used in cell culture and microbiology to prepare serial dilutions of cell suspensions.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the dilution factor formula:

Where:

• \( DF \) — Dilution factor (dimensionless)
• \( Vf \) — Final volume after dilution (mL)
• \( Vi \) — Initial volume before dilution (mL)

Explanation: The equation calculates how many times the original solution has been diluted by comparing the final volume to the initial volume.

3. Importance of Dilution Factor

Details: Accurate dilution calculations are essential for preparing cell suspensions of known concentration, performing serial dilutions for colony counting, and ensuring reproducibility in experiments.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both volumes in mL. The initial volume is typically the volume of cell suspension you're starting with, while the final volume includes both the initial volume and the diluent added.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between dilution factor and dilution ratio?
A: Dilution factor is a single number (e.g., 10), while dilution ratio is typically expressed as two numbers (e.g., 1:10).

Q2: How do I perform a serial dilution?
A: Perform sequential dilutions where each step uses the previous dilution as its starting material. For example, a 1:10 serial dilution would involve making ten 1:10 dilutions in series.

Q3: What if my dilution factor is less than 1?
A: A DF < 1 indicates concentration rather than dilution, which is uncommon in cell culture but possible in some protocols.

Q4: How does this relate to cell concentration?
A: Final cell concentration = Initial concentration / DF. For example, if you dilute 1 mL of 1×10⁶ cells/mL with 9 mL media (DF=10), final concentration is 1×10⁵ cells/mL.

Q5: What's a typical dilution factor for cell counting?
A: Common DFs range from 2-20 depending on initial cell density, with higher densities requiring greater dilution for accurate counting.