Cell Health Assays
You've chosen your cell model and determined the optimal culture conditions. Now you're ready to set up your experiments and acquire data!
Choosing a Cell-Based Assay
There are many ways to assess the state of cell health under a variety of conditions. What assays will get you the data you need?
![A scientist in orange goggles slams the countertop, causing a multiwell plate to jump](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-choosing-a-cell-based-assay-left-revised.gif?rev=715c5493dae6408b9bb0092486670cbf&sc_lang=en)
BLOG
Choosing a Cell-Based Assay
Here are some questions to consider as you decide which cell health assay best fits your experimental needs.
![A scientist in glasses talks to a scientist in goggles](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-choosing-a-cell-based-assay-middle-revised.gif?rev=04f633191c784fafa9a484d9ceb656cf&sc_lang=en)
WEBINAR
Ask the Experts
In this live recorded Q&A session, hear two cell health experts share their tips, resources and answers to common assay questions.
![A scientist in orange goggles stares at a multiwell plate and smiles as the liquid in the wells begins to change color](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-choosing-a-cell-based-assay-right-revised.gif?rev=aa625ac700384af5827e71ff5457170c&sc_lang=en)
BLOG
What Would You Do With More Data From One Sample?
Learn how real-time assays conserve your cells and resources while collecting a breadth of data.
Multiplex Data
There are many complex biological processes happening at once within a cell. For a more complete picture of cell health, consider multiplexing your assays to analyze more than one biomarker at a time.
Cell Viability
To monitor cell health, you need to ensure that your cultured cells are alive. Cell viability assays provide this basic data to support your specific research goals.
![A small, sleeping cell floats in a well on a plate](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-cell-viability-left-revised.gif?rev=8e3a74e6dd5a4751b7cc69588a971245&sc_lang=en)
BLOG
The "Go-To" Assay
Read about how cell viability assays provide the basis for research applications in drug discovery, immunotherapy cancer research, and more.
![A cell floating in a in a well on a plate eats a molecule](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-cell-viability-middle-revised.gif?rev=32f3324e21fe44c6afad7cd97906eadb&sc_lang=en)
GUIDE
Choosing a Cell Viability Assay
Gain understanding on how the variety of cell viability assays work so you can choose the best assay for your model system.
![A cell swims laps in a well on a plate](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-cell-viability-right-revised.gif?rev=99624f0853e14b049a10ce050193b9fd&sc_lang=en)
VIDEO
Cell Viability in Real-Time
Learn about new techniques for continuous real-time monitoring of cell health.
Cytotoxicity
Why are my cells dying? Is the dose of this drug toxic? Sometimes, information about cell death is more valuable than cell viability data.
![A cell with a tie on their head holds a bottle of EtOH (ethanol) dances](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-cytotoxicity-left-revised.gif?rev=c1772c0b0a0d4a37a551c8169c639df5&sc_lang=en)
ARTICLE
Drug Screening in 3D
Read more about a researcher who is using a 3D model of liver tissue and cytotoxicity assays to determine drug safety.
![A cell holding a bottle of EtOH (ethanol) slowly turns green](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-cytotoxicity-right-revised.gif?rev=a2aba3d9c6db410c9c0ca840d233bdbf&sc_lang=en)
BLOG
How and Why Cells Die
A real-time cytotoxicity assay offers a complete snapshot over multiple time points of how cells respond to a treatment, revealing when cells might die.
Apoptosis
Cell death is not a one-process-fits-all event. It's important to differentiate between apoptosis and other mechanisms.
![A cell with glasses and a coat reads while rocking on a rocking chair](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-apoptosis-left-revised.gif?rev=5c78bdbe15aa49e69e077d9aa3b2dd01&sc_lang=en)
VIDEO
No Further Questions
Learn about the fundamental biology behind the process of programmed cell death.
![A cell with glasses uses a walker to move across the screen](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-apoptosis-middle-revised.gif?rev=7c9b7058a98f4f8db223c7ce7f5330da&sc_lang=en)
BLOG
Detecting Apoptosis
There are a variety of methods to detect apoptosis in your cells. Explore these methods and discover which works best for your research interests.
![A leaf falls in front of a tombstone with the letters “RIP” on it](https://scv10mr-cdnpre-p-cus-00.azureedge.net/-/media/images/resources/student-resources/cell-biology-animations/cell-health/49129796-cell-health-assay-apoptosis-right-revised.gif?rev=6dfc74555e2e49e398b955022b0ccae1&sc_lang=en)
ARTICLE
Cell Death in Real Time
To differentiate between apoptosis and secondary necrosis, learn how to use real-time technology to monitor both luminescence and fluorescence in a single sample.