The MTT Assay: A Method for Error Minimization and Interpretation in Measuring Cytotoxicity and Estimating Cell Viability

Mahshid Ghasemi; Sisi Liang; Quang Minh Luu; Ivan Kempson

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-3052-5_2

The MTT Assay: A Method for Error Minimization and Interpretation in Measuring Cytotoxicity and Estimating Cell Viability

Methods Mol Biol. 2023:2644:15-33. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3052-5_2.

Authors

Mahshid Ghasemi¹, Sisi Liang¹, Quang Minh Luu¹, Ivan Kempson²

Affiliations

¹ Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia.
² Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, Australia. Ivan.Kempson@unisa.edu.au.

PMID: 37142913
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3052-5_2

Abstract

The MTT assay is extensively used, most often to infer a measure of cytotoxicity of treatments to cells. As with any assay though, there are a number of limitations. The method described here is designed with consideration of how the MTT assay fundamentally works to account for, or at least identify, confounding factors in measurements. It also provides a decision-making framework to best interpret and complement the MTT assay to apply it as either a measure of metabolic activity or cell viability.

Keywords: Cell metabolism; Cytotoxicity; Error minimization; Interpretation; MTT assay; Viability assay.

MeSH terms

Cell Survival
Research Design*
Tetrazolium Salts / metabolism

Substances

Tetrazolium Salts