Estimate sample degradation across repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Losses compound multiplicatively rather than adding, so five cycles at 8 per cent leaves about 66 per cent rather than 60. Whole cells and RNA are markedly more sensitive than DNA. Aliquoting into single-use volumes costs nothing and eliminates the problem entirely, which is why it is standard practice for any valuable sample.
Freeze-Thaw Cycle
Remaining activity = (1 − loss per cycle)^cycles
Remaining activity = (1 − loss per cycle)^cycles Losses compound multiplicatively rather than adding, so five cycles at 8 per cent leaves about 66 per cent rather than 60. Whole cells and RNA are markedly more sensitive than DNA.
Aliquoting into single-use volumes costs nothing and eliminates the problem entirely, which is why it is standard practice for any valuable sample.
This calculator takes 5 inputs: Number of freeze-thaw cycles, Loss per cycle, Sample type, Initial concentration, Aliquots available. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.