Overdilution

Overdilution refers to the process or outcome of diluting a solution more than is appropriate for a given purpose. It results in a concentration that is lower than intended, often accompanied by reduced activity, detection, or effect. The term is used across chemistry, biology, medicine, and environmental testing.

In laboratory practice, overdilution can occur during sample preparation, serial dilutions, or calibration steps. It lowers the signal in assays, increases the risk of crossing below the limit of detection, and can produce unreliable measurements. Pipetting errors, miscalculation of dilution factors, or inappropriate dilution series can all contribute to overdilution.

In medical or pharmacological contexts, overdilution can mean diluting a drug or therapeutic solution beyond the optimal concentration, potentially leading to ineffective treatment or subtherapeutic exposure. In intravenous therapy, excessive dilution can reduce drug delivery rate, alter pharmacokinetics, or require dosing adjustments.

Prevention and control involve careful planning of dilution schemes, validation of analytical methods, use of calibrated equipment, and verification with standards or controls. Laboratories may report dilution factors, use dilution series within the assay's dynamic range, and implement quality assurance to avoid overdilution.