Cell Counting

Cell counting is used as a widespread measurement in tissue culture to assess cell density for cell-based assays, as a readout in proliferation, viability and toxicity assays, and to normalize cell-based assay results for differences in cell density. BioTek’s imaging and microscopy products can count cells using a number of microscopy methods including fluorescence microscopy using fluorometric probes that intercalate with nuclear DNA, color brightfield for trypan blue-based viability measurements and label-free cell counting using either phase contrast or high contrast brightfield. Below are examples of fluorescence and stained cell counting applications using BioTek products:

Tissue Culture

• Standard hemocytometer-based cell counting using color brightfield to count trypan blue-stained non-viable cells
• Automated cell counting using C-chips and fluorescence microscopy
• High throughput automated cell counting using microplates and fluorescence microscopy

Cell-based Assays

• Cell proliferation assays using fluorescence microscopy
• Cytotoxicity and apoptosis assays using fluorescence microscopy

Normalization of Cell-based Assays

• Total cell counts and/or % viability after assay readout in the same microplate using fluorescence microscopy

MCF10A cells, Hoechst-labeled nuclei

MCF10A cells, Hoechst-labeled nuclei masked for counting

Kinetic Cytotoxicity Using Cell Counting