Molecular Probes™ alamarBlue™ Cell Viability Reagent

Description

alamarBlue reagent is a redox indicator that yields a colorimetric change and a fluorescent signal in response to metabolic activity. It is a proven safe and non-toxic dye used for quantitative analysis of cell viability and cell proliferation, for cytokine bioassays and in vitro cytotoxicity studies.

Applications:

• Cell proliferation determinations—alamarBlue reagent is water soluble, stable in culture, and non-toxic
• Cell viability assays, including cytotoxicity—metabolic activity and dye generation changes in proportion to altered viability and cell damage
• Cytokine assays—measure cytokine-induced proliferation, recover and expand cells at the end of the study if desired

alamarBlue reagent as a cell viability assay reagent
The alamarBlue assay is based on the ability of metabolically active cells to convert the reagent into a fluorescent and colorimetric indicator. Damaged and non-viable cells have lower innate metabolic activity, and generate a proportionally lower signal. The dye itself has low toxicity, and is generally safe for cells.

A safe, convenient, and versatile assay
alamarBlue reagent is an indigo-colored liquid that has been shown to effectively measure innate metabolic activity in animal, fungal and bacterial cells. Since alamarBlue reagent is non-toxic, the effector cells may be recovered for further analysis or cell expansion at the end of a study. alamarBlue reagent is water-soluble, saving time otherwise spend on washing and extraction steps. The homogeneous assay format of this kit is fast—add the single reagent directly to cells in suspension or to attached cells in full medium. The protocol is readily amenable to automation and high-throughput assays. The ability to detect the alamarBlue indicator by either fluorescence or spectroscopy provides compatibility with flow cytometry, plate readers and microscopy.

Experimental detection of alamarBlue reagent

• Fluorometry: by excitation at 530–560 nm and emission at 590 nm
• Spectrophotometry: by absorbance measurements at 570 nm and 600 nm