Mikrodiluutio

Mikrodiluutio, sometimes referred to as serial dilution, is a laboratory technique used to progressively reduce the concentration of a solute in a solution. This process is achieved by repeatedly diluting a small volume of a stock solution with a larger volume of diluent, typically a solvent such as water or a buffer. Each step in the dilution series results in a lower concentration of the original solute.

The fundamental principle of mikrodiluutio is that the concentration of the solute in the new solution is a fraction of the concentration in the previous one. For example, a 1:10 dilution means that one part of the original solution is mixed with nine parts of diluent, resulting in a solution that is one-tenth the original concentration. This process is repeated, with each subsequent dilution step further decreasing the concentration.

Mikrodiluutio is a crucial technique in various scientific fields. In microbiology, it is used to determine the number of viable microorganisms in a sample, often by plating serial dilutions onto agar. In molecular biology and biochemistry, it is employed for preparing solutions of specific concentrations for experiments like enzyme assays, DNA quantification, and antibody titrations. The technique allows for the precise preparation of very dilute solutions that would be difficult to achieve through direct measurement. The accuracy of mikrodiluutio relies on careful measurement of volumes and thorough mixing at each stage.