> 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/workflows/track-growth-curve.md).
# Track growth curve
| Skill level | Time to complete (E. coli) | Hands-on time | Requirements |
| -------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| :school\_satchel: No skill requirement | :hourglass: 8 hours | :stopwatch: 4 hours | :hard-drive: [7.6a](/item-register/bactobox-r/bactobox-r-hardware-changelog.md) :floppy-disk: ≥ v2026.02a |
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.
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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