Idt Dilution Calculator

IDT Oligo Dilution Calculator

Enter values and click 'Calculate Dilution'.

function calculateDilution() { var stockConcentration = parseFloat(document.getElementById('stockConcentration').value); var finalConcentration = parseFloat(document.getElementById('finalConcentration').value); var finalVolume = parseFloat(document.getElementById('finalVolume').value); var resultDiv = document.getElementById('dilutionResult'); if (isNaN(stockConcentration) || isNaN(finalConcentration) || isNaN(finalVolume) || stockConcentration <= 0 || finalConcentration <= 0 || finalVolume stockConcentration) { resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Desired final concentration cannot be higher than the stock concentration.'; return; } // C1V1 = C2V2 => V1 = (C2 * V2) / C1 var stockVolumeNeeded = (finalConcentration * finalVolume) / stockConcentration; var diluentVolumeNeeded = finalVolume – stockVolumeNeeded; resultDiv.innerHTML = 'To achieve your desired dilution:' + 'You will need ' + stockVolumeNeeded.toFixed(2) + ' µL of your stock oligo solution.' + 'Add ' + diluentVolumeNeeded.toFixed(2) + ' µL of diluent (e.g., nuclease-free water or TE buffer).' + 'This will result in a total volume of ' + finalVolume.toFixed(2) + ' µL at ' + finalConcentration.toFixed(2) + ' µM.'; }

Understanding IDT Oligo Dilution

When working with oligonucleotides (oligos) from Integrated DNA Technologies (IDT) or any other supplier, you often receive them in a highly concentrated stock solution. For most experimental applications, such as PCR, sequencing, or gene synthesis, these stock solutions need to be diluted to a specific working concentration and volume. Accurate dilution is crucial for the success and reproducibility of your experiments.

Why Dilute Oligos?

• Experimental Requirements: Most molecular biology protocols specify oligo concentrations in the nanomolar (nM) or low micromolar (µM) range, far below typical stock concentrations (e.g., 100 µM or 1000 µM).
• Accuracy: Working with diluted solutions allows for more precise pipetting of small volumes, reducing errors compared to trying to pipette extremely tiny volumes of highly concentrated stock.
• Cost-Effectiveness: While you use less of the stock solution, diluting it ensures you don't waste precious reagents by using too much.

The Dilution Formula: C1V1 = C2V2

The fundamental principle behind dilution calculations is the conservation of the amount of solute. The total amount of oligo (moles or mass) remains constant before and after dilution. This is expressed by the formula:

C1V1 = C2V2

• C1: Initial Stock Concentration (e.g., µM)
• V1: Volume of Stock Solution Needed (e.g., µL)
• C2: Desired Final Concentration (e.g., µM)
• V2: Desired Final Volume (e.g., µL)

Our calculator uses this formula to determine V1 (the volume of your concentrated oligo stock you need to add) and the corresponding volume of diluent (V2 – V1) required to reach your desired final concentration and volume.

How to Use the IDT Oligo Dilution Calculator

1. Stock Oligo Concentration (µM): Enter the concentration of your initial oligo stock solution. This is typically provided by IDT on the tube label or specification sheet (e.g., 100 µM, 1000 µM).
2. Desired Final Concentration (µM): Input the concentration you need for your experiment (e.g., 10 µM, 1 µM).
3. Desired Final Volume (µL): Specify the total volume of the diluted oligo solution you wish to prepare (e.g., 50 µL, 100 µL).
4. Click "Calculate Dilution": The calculator will instantly display the volume of stock solution you need to pipette and the volume of diluent (usually nuclease-free water or TE buffer) to add to reach your target.

Example Calculation

Let's say you have an IDT oligo stock at 100 µM. You need to prepare 50 µL of a 10 µM working solution.

• C1 = 100 µM
• C2 = 10 µM
• V2 = 50 µL

Using the formula V1 = (C2 * V2) / C1:

V1 = (10 µM * 50 µL) / 100 µM = 500 µM·µL / 100 µM = 5 µL

This means you need to take 5 µL of your 100 µM stock. To reach a final volume of 50 µL, you would then add:

Diluent Volume = V2 – V1 = 50 µL – 5 µL = 45 µL

So, you would mix 5 µL of 100 µM oligo stock with 45 µL of diluent to get 50 µL of 10 µM oligo solution.

Important Considerations

• Units: Ensure consistency in units. If your concentrations are in µM, your volumes should be in µL (or mL if appropriate), and the output will match. This calculator assumes µM for concentration and µL for volume.
• Diluent: Always use an appropriate diluent, typically nuclease-free water or TE buffer, to maintain oligo stability.
• Pipetting Accuracy: Use calibrated pipettes and proper pipetting techniques for accurate results, especially when dealing with small volumes.
• Storage: Store diluted oligos appropriately (e.g., -20°C) to prevent degradation.

This calculator simplifies the process, helping you quickly and accurately prepare your IDT oligo solutions for your molecular biology experiments.