> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.sbtinstruments.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.sbtinstruments.com/mpd/encyclopedia/get-starter-cultures/from-liquid-culture.md).

# From liquid culture

| Skill level                            | Time to complete                                               | Hands-on time                                   | Requirements                                                                                                                                                                 |
| -------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| :school\_satchel: No skill requirement | <i class="fa-hourglass">:hourglass:</i> 8-24 hours (*E. coli*) | <i class="fa-stopwatch">:stopwatch:</i> 3 hours | <i class="fa-hard-drive">:hard-drive:</i> [7.6a](/item-register/bactobox-r/bactobox-r-hardware-changelog-retired.md) <i class="fa-floppy-disk">:floppy-disk:</i> ≥ v2026.02a |

Subcultivation from an existing liquid culture is a fast approach to get a same-day starter culture. Because the cells are often in exponential or stationary stage, the adaptation period (lag phase) is short and it won't be long before the new culture is in exponential stage.

Note that subcultivation from a liquid culture carries certain risks. Liquid cultures often contain genetically diverse populations, and there may also be contaminants present.

Here we provide a step by step guide for how to subcultivate from a liquid culture.

1. [Get things ready](/mpd/encyclopedia/get-starter-cultures/from-liquid-culture/get-things-ready.md)
2. [Determine concentration of inoculum](/mpd/encyclopedia/get-starter-cultures/from-liquid-culture/determine-concentration-of-inoculum.md)
3. [Inoculate culture](/mpd/encyclopedia/get-starter-cultures/from-liquid-culture/inoculate-culture.md)
4. [Determine initial concentration](/mpd/encyclopedia/get-starter-cultures/from-liquid-culture/determine-initial-concentration.md)
5. [Determine concentration after incubation](/mpd/encyclopedia/get-starter-cultures/from-liquid-culture/determine-concentration-after-incubation.md)

Proceed to [Get things ready](/mpd/encyclopedia/get-starter-cultures/from-liquid-culture/get-things-ready.md) for initializing the protocol for subcultivation from a liquid culture.


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