200
cells
92.5
%
7.5
%
12.33
200
cells
92.5
%
7.5
%
12.33
The Cell Viability Calculator determines the percentage of live cells in your sample based on a viability staining assay such as Trypan Blue exclusion. Cell viability is a fundamental quality metric in cell culture, indicating the health of your cell population and the suitability of cells for downstream applications.
Enter the number of viable (unstained) and dead (stained) cells counted, and the calculator will provide the viability percentage along with total cell counts.
Cell viability is calculated as the proportion of live cells in the total population:
Viability (%) = (Viable Cells / Total Cells) × 100
Where Total Cells = Viable Cells + Dead Cells. In Trypan Blue exclusion, live cells with intact membranes exclude the dye and appear clear/bright, while dead cells with compromised membranes take up the dye and appear blue.
Inputs
Results
With 185 viable and 15 dead cells out of 200 total, the viability is 92.5%. This is considered a healthy culture suitable for most experiments.
Inputs
Results
After thawing cryopreserved cells, 60% viability with 40% dead cells indicates significant cell death during freeze-thaw. Allow 24-48 hours for recovery before use.
For most cell culture applications, viability above 90% is considered good. Viability of 80-90% is acceptable for many routine experiments. Below 80% may indicate problems with culture conditions, handling, or reagents. For critical applications like transfection or transplantation, viability above 95% is often preferred.
Trypan Blue is a large dye molecule that cannot cross intact cell membranes. Living cells actively exclude the dye, remaining clear. Dead or dying cells with damaged membranes allow the dye to enter, staining the cytoplasm blue. This simple principle makes Trypan Blue exclusion one of the most common viability assays.
Count a minimum of 100 total cells, ideally 200 or more, for a statistically reliable viability percentage. Counting too few cells introduces high sampling error. Use multiple hemocytometer squares and average the results for best accuracy.
Roboculator Team
The Roboculator Team explains calculations, planning tools, and practical formulas in clear language for real-life situations.
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