Dojindo Molecular Technologies Inc. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8)

Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) is a highly sensitive, non-radioactive colorimetric assay designed to assess cell viability and proliferation. This kit employs the water-soluble tetrazolium salt WST-8, which is reduced by cellular dehydrogenases in metabolically active cells to produce an orange formazan dye. The intensity of the color, measurable at 450 nm, is directly proportional to the number of viable cells, facilitating accurate quantification of cell proliferation and cytotoxicity.

Key features:

• Enhanced sensitivity: Detects as few as 10 cells per well, surpassing traditional assays like MTT, XTT, and MTS.
• Rapid and straightforward workflow: Requires only a single reagent addition and a short incubation period, with no need for solubilization steps.
• Low cytotoxicity: Allows for longer incubation times (up to 48 hours) without harming cells, enabling continuous monitoring of cell viability.
• High reproducibility: Provides consistent results across various cell lines, ensuring reliability in experimental outcomes.
• Broad compatibility: Suitable for use with both adherent and suspension cells, and compatible with standard microplate readers.

Applications:

• Biotechnology: Essential for evaluating cell viability in bioprocessing and biomanufacturing workflows.
• Drug discovery: Widely used in high-throughput screening to assess the cytotoxic effects of compounds on various cell lines.
• Oncology research: Critical for studying cancer cell proliferation and the efficacy of potential therapeutic agents.
• Molecular biology: Utilized in gene editing and synthetic biology to monitor cell health post-transfection or genetic modification.
• Clinical diagnostics: Applied in molecular diagnostics to evaluate cell viability in patient-derived samples.

Commonly used in:

• Biotechnology companies: For quality control and optimization of cell-based processes.
• Pharmaceutical firms: In preclinical testing and drug development pipelines.
• Academic and research institutions: For fundamental studies in cell biology and related fields.
• Clinical laboratories: To assess cell viability in diagnostic assays.

Since its introduction, CCK-8 has become a staple in laboratories worldwide, offering a reliable and efficient method for cell viability assessment. Its continued relevance underscores its value in advancing research and development across multiple scientific disciplines.