Osmotic Shock and CellCount Accuracy: Ensuring Accurate Cell Density and Cell Viability Measurements

November 19, 9am EST

Mammalian and insect cell lines, while engineered for robustness and stability, are often susceptible to rapid environmental changes, especially changes in osmolality. Most cell culture processes use common solutions to dilute cell culture samples to achieve a concentration within the limits of detection of the automated cell counter. In addition, cell culture processes involve pH control solutions and feeds, and both increase the osmolality of the culture. When processing samples for analysis, no negative impact of the diluent osmolality is expected when the cell culture sample osmolality is comparable to the diluent used. Diluent mismatch can lead to cell shock, cell lysis, and ultimately to negative impacts on viable cell density, total cell density, and viability. This webinar will discuss these adverse impacts and key design elements in the BioProfile FAST CDV cell counter that drastically reduce the effects that osmotic shock can have on cell density and cell viability measurements, especially with batch or plate sampling.