Make sample vial

Get things ready

You need these items:

• 1 × dilution vial or 1 × empty vial

• 1 × dilution liquid

• 1 × your own prepared sample

See also What can I measure on? and Prepare your sample.

Step-by-step

1

Dilute your sample

The ingredients for your sample vial are simple: Your prepared sample mixed with dilution liquid.

How much should I dilute my sample? It depends. See Hit the right concentration.

We'll refer to it as your sample vial from now on. Put a label on the vial or mark with a lab marker to remember the contents.

Target 0.5–4 million cells/mL for fast results

The more things to count, the faster we are certain about the concentration. Give BactoBox® something to work with and it triggers the Fast results feature ⏩.

Make a dilution series and measure the most diluted sample first. Aim for 0.5–4 million cells/mL.

2

Mix sample vial

Mix the sample vial to uniformly suspend the particles within.

There are two options: Mix with vortex mixer or mix by hand.

Mix with vortex mixer

We recommend that you use a vortex mixer to mix the sample vial

This is the best way to uniformly suspend the particles within.

Place sample vial on vortex mixer and mix for at least 10 seconds.

Vortex mixer

Ensure that a vortex/cyclone forms in the liquid.

The vortex mixer is not part of the packaging. You must acquire a vortex mixer yourself.

Mix by shaking

Only as a last resort

Only shake the sample vial by hand if you don't have a vortex mixer.

Shake the sample vial vigorously for at least 30 seconds.

3

That is it!

You now have your own sample vial that you can measure.

Your sample vial is for single use only

Once you run the liquid through BactoBox®, the properties change significantly.

Always discard your sample vial after use!