Aliquoting
Pronunciation: AL-i-kwot-ing
The division of a primary specimen into smaller, equal sub-samples (aliquots) for storage, distribution, or parallel testing.
Full Definition
Aliquoting is a routine sample preparation step in which a primary specimen—such as serum, plasma, urine, or nucleic acid extract—is subdivided into defined volumes for multiple purposes: running parallel assays, archiving for repeat testing, or distributing to multiple analytical sites. Aliquots are typically stored in labelled cryovials or microtubes and may be frozen at −80 °C for long-term biobanking. Editors should note that 'aliquot' is both a noun (an aliquot) and a verb (to aliquot); 'aliquoting' is the gerund/present participle form. The verb form is well established in laboratory English despite being derived from Latin.
Usage
Usage note: 'Aliquot' is accepted as both noun and verb in laboratory English. Distinguish 'aliquoting' (splitting one sample into smaller equal parts) from 'pooling' (combining multiple samples into one).
In Context
- "Following centrifugation, 500 µL aliquots of plasma were transferred to cryovials and stored at −80 °C." — Biobank specimen processing protocol
- "Aliquoting must be performed within two hours of venepuncture to minimise pre-analytical degradation." — Clinical trial laboratory manual