Having trouble choosing between manual and automated cell counter? Your option may vary depending on your cell type and environment you are working in.
This post includes:
-What manual counter is
-How to calculate after manually counting cells?
-General procedure of automated cell counter
-Manual and automated cell counter comparison
Manual counting is the classic method
Manual cell counting requires few materials - cell sample, hemocytometer (with applicable grid pattern), trypan blue staining solution, pipette and microscope.
Based on which hemocytometer you use, sample type and volume may vary. If you need a quick review on hemocytometer, click this page.
Manual cell counting calculation:
For calculation, see below:
1. Sum up the total number of viable cells in corner squares = N
2. Obtain dilution factor = D
(volume of suspended cells + volume of staining solution) / volume of suspended cells
3. Calculate the density of viable cells
N / (number of squares counted x volume of a square) x D
or
[(N x 10^4) / number of squares counted] x D
4. Calculate viability %
Viability % = (viable cells / total number of cells) x 100
where, viable cells = (number of viable cells / number of corner squares counted) x D x 10,000
and, (number of non-viable cells / number of corner squares counted) x D x 10,000
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