Cell-based Assay Kits and Cell Analysis Reagents

Cell-based analysis means running assays on living or fixed cells. These assays measure biological parameters such as viability, proliferation, apoptosis, motility, gene expression, or intracellular signalling. Results reflect the full response of intact cells, capturing mechanisms that cell-free biochemical assays cannot show.

Viability assays report whether cells are alive or dead as a population-level endpoint. They are often based on metabolic reduction of tetrazolium salts or on ATP quantification. Apoptosis assays instead detect mechanistic markers of programmed cell death. These include caspase activation, annexin V binding to phosphatidylserine and DNA fragmentation. These are hallmark features of apoptosis. Late apoptotic and necrotic cells can share some of these features, so appropriate timing and controls are needed to reliably tell apoptotic cell death apart from necrosis.

Most membrane-intercalating and amine-reactive fluorescent tracking dyes work with adherent and suspension cells, primary cultures, and cell lines. For in vivo cell tracking, choose dyes with low toxicity and high photostability across multiple division cycles. Always confirm compatibility with specific immune cell subtypes against published protocols.

FISH probes detect specific DNA or RNA sequences at the chromosomal level. Use them when you need to visualise gene copy number, chromosomal rearrangements, or mRNA localisation within individual cells. Immunofluorescence detects protein antigens instead, and is preferred when protein expression, localisation, or post-translational modification is the endpoint.