Chemiluminescent assay for determination of viable cell density of yeast, mammalian, and plant cells.

The production of H2O2 by intact cells is promoted in the presence of menadione and is proportional to the density of viable cells. The concentration of H2O2 produced is determined by the measurement of chemiluminescence which is generated in the mixture of H2O2, pyrene, and bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)oxalate. This method is applied to the measurement of viable yeast, mammalian, and plant cells. For example, viable yeast cell density above 10(4) cells/ml is determined for 2 min, and mammalian cell density and the activity of plant tissues are determined for 10 and 5 min, respectively.