NucleoCounter® NC-100 ™ mammalian cell counter

Description

The NucleoCounter® NC-100 ™ is an imaging cytometer based on the fluorescence of the dye propidium iodide (PI). It is part of the NucleoCounter System, which includes a NucleoCassette ™ cassette, lysis buffer (reagent A100), and stabilization buffer (reagent B). The system allows for reliable, fast and objective cell counting based on the method of fluorescence microscopy. It also allows the user to stain and count mammalian cells without working with hazardous dyes.

The NC-100 ™ eliminates user subjectivity and can count even the most aggregated mammalian cells with the NucleoCassette ™. The NucleoCassette ™ itself is calibrated to limit user intervention as much as possible.

Determination of cell viability

Cell counting and determination of viability are based on the ability of a fluorescent dye to distinguish between viable and non-viable cells through different plasma membrane permeabilities.

Determination of cell viability is based on the exclusion method. The cell viability of the sample is determined using the values of the total cell count and the number of non-viable cells.

When the sample is mixed with reagent A100 and reagent B, the viable cell membrane is lysed, resulting in all cell nuclei being stained with propidium iodide (PI), giving the total cell count.

However, non-viable cells are permeable without treatment with reagents and therefore stained directly with PI, which gives the number of non-viable cells.

The NucleoCounter® NC-100 ™ can be connected to a PC using the USB port. It should be noted that all calculations, cell counting and data analysis are performed in the NC-100 ™, which is a stand-alone instrument. The transfer of image data to a PC provides the user with additional documentation and options. When connected to a computer, the optional NucleoView software offers various functions, such as results documenting.

The NucleoCounter, NucleoCassette ™, Lysis Buffer, and Stabilization Buffer are for research purposes only, not diagnostic use.

The system identifies and counts individual cells containing stained DNA. Sample pretreatment is designed to provide efficient staining of cellular DNA, but it also helps to dissolve cell aggregates.

The instrument is equipped with advanced image analysis software that analyzes the image and counts the number of nuclei. Since the volume of the measuring chamber of the cassette and the dilution of the lysate are known, the cell density in the original sample can be calculated. The concentration of cells in the original sample is shown on the display.

The whole process takes approximately 30 seconds, from pressing the "Run" button to the result being shown on the display.

Specifications