Cell Viability Dyes Better than Trypan Blue - Trypan blue vs Erythrosine B vs Other? (Feb/06/2008 )

Hi Everyone,

I am doing a growth curve experiment and measuring viability. I'm having problems distinguishing live vs. dead cells with Trypan Blue and am searching for an alternative stain. I've read that it is easier to see live vs. dead with Erythrosine B. I was wondering if anyone can comment on this dye compared to Trypan Blue or can suggest another dye to use. I'm visualizing/ counting cells using a hemacytometer and would prefer to this methods instead of using a fluoresence assay requiring more/ expensive equipment.

Thanks so much!

I have not used Erythrosine B.

Trypan blue is cheap and simple to use. Just do not use too much of trypan blue and it should be fine.

Thanks for the comment. I don't use too much of it and the trypan blue works OK but I'm just hoping to find something better to improve my ability to discriminate and gives me less of a headache. Any other suggestions?

Hello,

You can use MTT, neutral red or Crystal violet to test cell viability and different commercial stuff like CytoTox,.... But for crystal violet, it measure only cell adherence (for that you need to have adherent cell!!!) but you can discriminate living versus death cell after washing because death cell pass in the supernatant and so you measure only living cell after different wash.

hope to help

biofred