logo
AAT Bioquest

What is the procedure of ten-fold serial dilution?

Posted January 9, 2024


Answer

The procedure for one type of ten-fold serial dilution is described in the steps below.

  1. Arrange the sterilized glass test tubes in a rack and mark each tube to show the level of dilution after performing the ten-fold serial dilution. 
  2. Use a micropipette to add 900 mL of the diluent into all the labeled sterile tubes. 
  3. Using a micropipette, transfer 100 mL of the test solution to the first tube and mix thoroughly. This marks the first ten-fold dilution.
  4. Use a fresh sterile tip on the micropipette to create a second ten-fold dilution
  5. Continue this sequence of ten-fold dilutions until reaching the last tube in the series. 

These same steps can be followed for other experiments using different volumes, and diluents. 

Additional resources

Appendix 5. Ten-fold serial dilutions

Serial Dilution Calculator and Planner