Measuring cellular proliferation: alamarBlue®
Quantitative measurements using colorimetry or fluorescence
Description | alamarBlue® | |
Quantity | 25 ml | 100 ml |
Product Code |
alamarBlue® is designed to provide a rapid and sensitive measure of cell proliferation and cytotoxicity in various human and animal cell lines, bacteria and fungi. It is simple to use as the indicator dye is water soluble, thus eliminating the washing/fixing and extraction steps required in other commonly used cell proliferation assays.
The assay incorporates a specially selected oxidation-reduction (REDOX) indicator that both fluoresces and undergoes colorimetric change in response to cellular metabolic reduction. This offers the user a choice of detection method.
Unlike traditional radioactive labeling assays that measure cell growth, the REDOX indicator is non-toxic to cells, users and the environment. It also produces a clear, stable and distinct change, which is easy to interpret.
Worked Examples
- To determine optimum cell density and incubation time for a549 cells, using alamarBlue® and spectophotometry.
- To determine optimum cell density and incubation time for p388 cells, using alamarBlue® and spectophotometry.
- Notes to accompany the worked examples
Example Calculations
Example calculation 1
Example calculation 2
Example calculation 3
Example calculation 4
Example calculation 5
Product Principle
- Growing cells cause a chemical reduction of alamarBlue®.
- Continued growth maintains a reduced environment (fluorescent, red).
- Inhibition of growth maintains an oxidized environment (non-fluorescent, blue).
- Data may be collected using either fluorescence-based or absorbance-based instrumentation.
- Fluorescence is monitored at 530-560 nm excitation wavelength and 590nm emission wavelength.
- Absorbance is monitored at 570 nm and 600 nm.
Features and Benefits
Features | Benefits |
|---|---|
Fluorescent/colorimetric reaction | Allows choice of detection method |
Water soluble | No extraction required |
Works on suspended or attached cell lines | No centrifugation required |
Fewer steps than traditional assays | Time saving |
Easily adaptable to automation | Useful for high throughput testing |
Stable | Allows for continuous cell growth monitoring and kinetic studies over several days |
Non-cytotoxic | Minimal interference with normal metabolism |
Non-radioactive | Safe and easily disposable |
Indications for Use
- The bioassay can be used to establish proliferation or relative cytotoxicity.
- Baseline data for predicting the toxicity of related novel agents can be compared to baseline data with known in vivo toxicity.
- alamarBlue® is for use between pH6.8 and pH7.4.
