Serial Dilution Calculator
Design equal-final-volume serial dilutions for plates or tubes. Set diluent volume, choose a fold factor, and generate transfer volumes with step-by-step pipetting instructions.
Design Serial Dilutions
Concentration Series
| Tube | Concentration | Fold from C₀ |
|---|
Pipetting Instructions
ℹ️ Frequently Asked Questions
How is transfer volume calculated?
Transfer volume is derived from: T = D / (F − 1). For a 2-fold dilution with 100 μL diluent: T = 100 / 1 = 100 μL. For 3-fold: T = 100 / 2 = 50 μL.
Why discard from the last tube?
After transferring T μL into the last tube and mixing, its volume is D + T — larger than all other tubes. Discarding T μL equalizes volumes, which is critical for assays comparing equal volumes (ELISA, cell assays, etc.).
What are common applications?
ELISA standard curves, antibody titrations, MIC testing, dose-response experiments, qPCR standard curves, and cell viability assays. The consistent fold spacing produces evenly distributed points on a log scale.
What if transfer volume has decimals?
The calculator shows exact values to 3 decimal places. Round to your pipette's resolution. A slight rounding error propagates but is acceptable for most biological assays. Choose a diluent volume that yields clean transfer volumes for your fold factor.
Can I use this for 96-well plates?
Yes. With N ≤ 12, the calculator shows corresponding well positions for horizontal layout (A1–A12). Typical 96-well volumes are 100–200 μL per well.