MTT cell proliferation assays require cellular metabolism to turn over the reagent, and thus only live cells will be counted. Is this true for CyQUANT Direct as well?
This is true for MTT (as well as XTT, AlamarBlue Cell Viability Reagent, and PrestoBlue Cell Viability Reagent). CyQUANT Direct will also only count live cells, but for a different reason. The dye is a green-fluorescent nucleic acid stain, which will bind to DNA in all cells, live or dead, without the need for cellular metabolism. However, there is a cell impermeant quenching reagent in the kit which will quench both extracellular fluorescence (and thus this is a no-wash assay) and the fluorescence in dead cells (but not live cells).
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Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Cell Analysis Support Center.