# Track growth curve

| Skill level                                        | Time to complete (E. coli)                      | Hands-on time                                   | Requirements                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| -------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| <i class="fa-medal">:medal:</i> Basic microbiology | <i class="fa-hourglass">:hourglass:</i> 8 hours | <i class="fa-stopwatch">:stopwatch:</i> 4 hours | <i class="fa-hard-drive">:hard-drive:</i> [7.6a](/encyclopedia/item-register/bactobox-r/bactobox-r-hardware-changelog.md) <i class="fa-floppy-disk">:floppy-disk:</i> [v2026.02a](/encyclopedia/software.md) |

Access lets you instantly add metadata about your sample. With the computer as input device, you can interact with familiar BactoBox® buttons on your screen. Growth curves are generated with ease when you add information on dilution factors and sampling time.

In this step-by-step example we will demonstrate how to track growth curves. We'll use a straightforward example with *E. coli* in a shake flask. At 37 °C, *E. coli* has a generation time, g, of \~20 min in LB medium. We will sample at g x 1.5, that is a sample for every 30 min.

Notice that you will collect samples every 30 minutes for \~8 hours. This requires that you set aside a full lab day for the experiment if you are working with *E. coli*. Understanding the lag phase duration, growth rates, and carrying capacity can significantly enhance your fermentation process design. Trust us; it will be worth it!

Here’s how the results will appear after measurements are completed.

<figure><img src="/files/2U4rgLTmUYryFzypT5bp" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

The overall steps are shown below. Click the links to jump to the relevant section.

1. [Get things ready](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/get-things-ready.md)
2. [Create measurement group](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/create-measurement-group.md)
3. [Check growth medium](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/check-growth-medium.md)
4. [Measure starter culture](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/measure-starter-culture.md)
5. [Inoculate](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/inoculate.md)
6. [1:100 dilution after inoculation](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/1-100-dilution-post-inoculation.md)
7. [1:100 dilutions](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/1-100-dilutions.md)
8. [1:10 000 dilutions](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/1-10-000-dilutions.md)
9. [Conclude growth curve](/mpd/workflows/track-growth-curve/conclude-growth-curve.md)


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