LIVE/DEAD Cell Imaging Kit (488/570) | Thermo Fisher Scientific

Two-color dual-parameter cell viability assay

This kit permits quick and easy determination of cell viability using two common microscope filters (FITC and TRITC) based on intracellular esterase activity and plasma membrane integrity.

This protocol can be used for:

Identifying live and dead cells using a fluorescence microscope

This protocol should not be used for:

Flow cytometry (see alternative flow cytometry protocol)

You will need the following for this protocol:

Cells growing in culture
LIVE/DEAD Cell Imaging Kit (Cat. No. R37601)
Fluorescence microscope with FITC and TRITC filters

Protocol

1. Culture cells in appropriate medium and vessel for microscopy

2. Thaw vials

3. Transfer Live Green vial (A) into Dead Red vial (B)

4. Mix to create 2X stock

5. Add equal volume 2X stock to cells

6. Incubate 15 min at 20–25°C

7. Image cells

Spectral information and storage

	Live Green	Dead Red
Excitation/Emission	488/515 nm	570/602 nm
Standard filter set	FITC or GFP	Texas Red
EVOS Light Cube	GFP	Texas Red
Storage conditions	–20°C	–20°C

Protocol tips

Use 2x stock within 2 hours
Image quality may be improved by replacing media with Live Cell Imaging Solution
The stains do not survive fixation or permeabilization

Image of cells stained with LIVE/DEAD Cell Imaging Kit Reagents
Hep G2 cells stained using the LIVE/DEAD Cell Imaging Kit.

LIVE/DEAD Cell Imaging Kit (488/570) Protocol