Cell Viability (quantitation and cytotoxicity)

Cell Viability (quantitation and cytotoxicity):

The measurement of cell viability plays a fundamental role in all forms of cell culture. Sometimes it is the main purpose of the experiment, such as in toxicity assays. Alternatively, cell viability can be used to correlate cell behaviour to cell number, providing a more accurate picture, for example anabolic activity. There are wide arrays of cell viability methods which range from the most routine trypan blue dye exclusion assay to highly complex analysis of individual cells, such as using RAMAN microscopy. The cost, speed, and complexity of equipment required will all play a role in determining the assay used. This chapter provides an overview of many of the assays available today. Cell viabilityis a determination of living or dead cells, based on a total cell sample. Viability measurements may be used to evaluate the death or life of cancerous cells and the rejection of implanted organs. In other applications, these tests might calculate the effectiveness of a pesticide or insecticide, or evaluate environmental damage due to toxins.