MTT Cell Viability Assay (BA0004)

Description

Assay Genie's MTT cell viability assay has been optimized for maximum sensitivity, reproducibility and long shelf-life. The homogeneous cell-based assay can be performed in multi-well plates. The reagent is compatible with all culture media and with all liquid handling systems for high-throughput screening applications in 96-well and 384-well plates. Applications include cell proliferation, cytotoxicity and apoptosis.

Applications

Homogeneous assay for cell viability, proliferation, cytotoxcity and high-throughput screen for anticancer agents.

Key Features

• Safe. Non-radioactive assay (cf. ³H-thymidine incorporation assay).
• Sensitive and accurate. As low as 950 cells can be accurately quantified.
• Time efficient. High-throughput assay in 96-well allows simultaneous processing ten of thousands of samples per day.
• Homogeneous and convenient. A single reagent and "mix-incubate-measure" type assay. No wash and reagent transfer steps are involved.
• Robust and amenable to HTS. Z factors of 0.5 and above are observed. Can be readily automated with HTS liquid handling systems.

Data Sheet
Includes	Catalog # Size (assays) Reagent BA0002 5,000 50 mL BA0003 10,000 100 mL BA0004 500 10ml.Control Reagent (Cat # BA0005): 50 mg saponin (to be ordered separately).
Method of Detection	OD 570nm
Detection Limit	950 cells
Samples	Cell culture
Species	All
Protocol Length	5 hrs
Size	500 tests
Storage	The kit is shipped at room temperature. Store the Reagent at -20 °C. Solubilization Solution can be storedat room temperature. Shelf life: 12 month after receipt.
Shelf Life	12 months

More Details

The study of cell proliferation and cell viability requires the accurate quantification of the number of viable cells in a cell culture. Therefore, assays for calculating cell viability are necessary for optimizing cell culture conditions, evaluating cell growth factors and nutrients, discovering novel antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs, evaluating toxic effects of environmental pollutants and cell mediated toxicity and studying programmed cell death (apoptosis). The MTT assay kit provides a convenient, sensitive, quantitative and reliable assay for determining the number of viable cells in a given culture. This homogeneous colorimetric assay is based on the conversion of a tetrazolium salt MTT, a pale yellow substrate, to formazan, a purple dye. This cellular reduction reaction involves the pyridine nucleotide cofactors NADH/NADPH and is only catalyzed by living cells. The formazan product has a low aqueous solubility and is present as purple crystals. Dissolving the resulting formazan with a solubilization buffer permits the convenient quantification of product formation. The intensity of the product color, measured at 550 - 620 nm, is directly proportional to the number of living cells in the culture. Reagents in the kit have been carefully formulated and optimized for sensitivity, assay robustness and automation.