Cytotoxicity Assays
Quantify cell killing and membrane damage with LDH release, MTT and cytotoxicity kits in a microplate format.
Lactate dehydrogenase leaks from cells with damaged membranes. Measuring LDH in the medium gives a direct marker of cell death.
Viable cells reduce MTT to a coloured formazan, so a fall in signal reports loss of metabolically active cells.
A plate-reader kit for measuring compound-induced cell killing.
Cytotoxicity assays report membrane damage and cell death rather than growth. They are widely used in drug screening and toxicity testing, often alongside a viability or proliferation read-out so that cell killing can be separated from slower growth.
LDH released from cells with damaged membranes is measured in the culture medium. More LDH indicates more cell death.
MTT measures metabolic activity. A drop in MTT signal after treatment is commonly reported as cytotoxicity, so it is used for both purposes.
Yes. LDH is measured in the supernatant, so the remaining cells can often be used for a viability or apoptosis assay.