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The dilution factor is a measure of how much the concentration of a substance has been reduced or diluted in a solution. It represents the ratio of the final volume of the solution to the initial volume of the substance being diluted. Mathematically, the dilution factor is calculated as: Dilution factor = Final volume / Initial volume For example, if you start with an initial volume of 1 mL and add 9 mL of a diluent, the final volume will be 10 mL. In this case, the dilution factor would be: Dilution factor = 10 mL / 1 mL = 10 This means that the concentration of the substance has been diluted by a factor of 10 in the final solution compared to the initial concentration. The dilution factor is often used in laboratory settings to accurately measure and adjust concentrations of substances, as well as to perform dilution series or serial dilutions. To determine the dilution factor, you need to calculate the ratio of the final volume to the initial volume. In this case, you've taken 250 µL of plasma and added 750 µL of distilled water. The final volume is the sum of the plasma and water, which is 250 µL 750 µL = 1000 µL (or 1 mL). To calculate the dilution factor, divide the final volume by the initial volume: Dilution factor = Final volume / Initial volume Dilution factor = 1000 µL / 250 µL Dilution factor = 4 Therefore, by adding 750 µL of distilled water to 250 µL of plasma, you have achieved a 4-fold dilution. Problems: If you’ve taken 250 µL of plasma and added 750 µL of distilled water, you’ve achieved what dilution factor? A) 1:3 B) 1:4 C) 1:5 D) 1:8 If there is 19 mL of diluent in a tube and 1 mL of sample is added, what is the dilution factor of the sample? A) 1/30 B) 1/20 C) 1/19 D) 1/18
