Handbook of Eukaryotic Cell Counting

Cell counting is the process of counting the number of cells, often the number of viable cells, in a given sample. It is a fundamental step in many experimental workflows, allowing scientists to ensure an appropriate, consistent number of cells is plated for sub-culturing or experimental analyses. Plating cells at an optimal density is vital not only for keeping cells alive and in favorable conditions but also for downstream processes that require a specific number of cells, including cell culture, transfection, cell-based assays such as proliferation and viability assays, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) and bioprocessing.

This handbook will delve into the history of cell counting before discussing the core principles of cell counting, as well as the ins and outs of the most commonly used cell counting techniques, including advanced topics and special techniques. Although cell counting is equally essential in microbiology, this handbook will focus on cell counting for eukaryotic cells only. Here, we focus mainly on cell counting in mammalian cells, though the basic principles and some methodologies may also apply to other eukaryotic cells, such as yeast and insect cells.