The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) uses a water-soluble tetrazole salt WST-8 that is bioreduced in live cells to produce a methane dye. This enzymatic reduction relies on intracellular dehydrogenase activity, allowing for a direct correlation between the amount of methane produced and the number of viable cells. The water solubility of the resulting methane simplifies the assay procedure and can be quantified by a microplate reader. This kit is commonly used in biomedical research to assess cell proliferation, viability, and cytotoxicity in vitro. Compared to methods like MTT, XTT, MTS, or WST-1, CCK-8 offers increased sensitivity and ease of use.

More Sensitive than MTT, MTS, or WST-1

No Toxicity to Cell

Simpler Steps, No organic solvents required

Stable One Bottle Solution, ready-to-use

Advantages

1. What is the color of the CCK-8 solution?

A: The CCK-8 is a pink liquid.

2. How should CCK-8 be stored?

A: CCK-8 is highly stable. For short-term use, store it at 4°C. For long-term storage, keep it at -20°C. Minimize the number of freeze-thaw cycles to maintain optimal performance.

3. How much CCK-8 should be added to the wells?

A: Add a volume of CCK-8 equal to 1/10 of the culture medium volume in the well.

4. How long should I incubate the cells after adding CCK-8?

A: The standard incubation time is 1-4 hours in a cell culture incubator. The optimal incubation time depends on the cell type and density. For cells with high metabolic activity, color develops quickly; for cells with low activity, the incubation can be extended.

5. What is the absorbance range for the CCK-8 assay?

A: The absorbance reading typically falls between 0.1 and 2.0, with values around 1.0 being ideal.