SIMPLE DILUTIONS

KEY TERMS

  • Dilution: ratio of concentrated material to total final volume

  • Solute: substance being dilute (ex. Patient plasma or serum)

  • Diluent: substance that the solute is being diluted with (ex. Saline, buffer, etc.)


SIMPLE DILUTIONS

  • Can be expressed as a ratio or fraction

    • Ex. 1:20 dilution or 120\frac{1}{20} dilution

      • NOTE: the number after the colon, or on the bottom of the fraction, represents the total volume of the final solution.

      • In the example above, “20” = 1 part solute + 19 parts diluent

  • All of the following are examples of volumes you can use to make a 1:10 dilution

    • 100μL100\mu L serum (solute) + 900μL900\mu L saline (diluent) = 100100+900=1001000=110\frac{100}{100+900}=\frac{100}{1000}=\frac{1}{10} Dilution, or 1:10 dilution

    • 20μL20\mu L plasma (solute) + 180μL180\mu L buffer (diluent) = 2020+180=20200=110\frac{20}{20+180}=\frac{20}{200}=\frac{1}{10} Dilution, or 1:10 dilution

    • 2mL serum (solute) +18mL saline (diluent) = 22+18=220=110\frac{2}{2+18}=\frac{2}{20}=\frac{1}{10} Dilution, or 1:10 dilution

  • We can use an equation to determine any unknown