You are given a culture of cells having an initial concentration of 1.3 X 108 cells / mL. From this you have to perform a serial dilution in order to plate them at a concentration of 50 cells / mL. In a series of clear, separate steps illustrate how you would perform a serial dilution in the fewest steps possible to reach the required plating concentration. Use no more than a 1/100 dilution. Include in your illustration the dilution factor at each step, the total dilution at each step, the volume of isotonic saline in the test tube and the volume of stock added successively from each tube.

Question

You are given a culture of cells having an initial concentration of 1.3 X 108 cells / mL. From this you have to perform a serial dilution in order to plate them at a concentration of 50 cells / mL.  In a series of clear, separate steps illustrate how you would perform a serial dilution in the fewest steps possible to reach the required plating concentration. Use no more than a 1/100 dilution. Include in your illustration the dilution factor at each step, the total dilution at each step, the volume of isotonic saline in the test tube and the volume of stock added successively from each tube.