Viabilitätstest

Viabilitätstest refers to a laboratory test used to determine if a sample, typically cells or tissues, is alive or has been damaged. This is crucial in various fields such as cell biology, pharmacology, and medical research. The fundamental principle behind most viability tests is to detect metabolic activity or membrane integrity, which are indicative of a living cell. Common methods include assays that measure enzyme activity within living cells, such as the MTT or WST assays, where a color change occurs in the presence of metabolically active cells. Another approach is to assess the integrity of the cell membrane. Propidium iodide, for example, is a fluorescent dye that can only enter cells with compromised membranes, thus staining dead cells. Trypan blue exclusion is another widely used technique that relies on the principle that living cells with intact membranes will exclude the dye, while dead cells will take it up and appear blue. Viability testing is essential for assessing the effects of drugs, toxins, or environmental conditions on cells, ensuring the quality of cell cultures, and supporting the development of new therapies.