51Cr-uptake assay. A sensitive and reliable method to quantitate cell viability and cell death.

This report describes a sensitive and reproducible cytotoxicity assay which is ideal for screening toxic compounds or soluble lytic factors from leukocytes. The assay relies on the ability of sodium [51Cr]chromate to be taken up by viable but not dead cells. This assay is the reverse of the conventional 51Cr-release assay. The target cells are 51Cr-labeled after incubation with cytotoxic factors. 51Cr-uptake does not depend on DNA, RNA or protein synthesis and the only parameters which influence its uptake are temperature, viability, number and cell volume.