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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay

The Soft Agar Colony Formation Assay

Published on: October 27, 2014

Improved soft-agar colony assay in a fluid processing apparatus.

A D Forsman¹, A R Herpich, S K Chapes

¹Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-4901, USA.

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology. Animal

|September 4, 1999

Summary

This study introduces an improved method for quantifying bone marrow macrophage precursors using specialized hardware, showing significantly enhanced colony growth compared to standard assays.

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Area of Science:

Hematology
Cell Biology
Space Biology

Background:

Quantifying bone marrow precursor cells traditionally involves counting colony-forming units in semisolid agar.
Previous methods are limited in efficiency and scope for certain cell types.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe an improved method for determining bone marrow macrophage precursor cell numbers.
To evaluate the efficacy of a novel hardware system for cell culture assays.

Main Methods:

Adaptation of the standard colony-forming unit assay for use in the Fluid Processing Apparatus (FPA).
Comparison of macrophage colony growth in the FPA versus standard plate assays using mouse and rat samples.
Analysis of factors influencing colony growth, including agar thickness and FPA-inherent properties.

Keywords:

Non-programmatic

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Main Results:

Significantly greater colony growth was observed when using the FPA compared to standard plate assays.
Improved growth in the FPA correlated with increased agar thickness.
Inherent properties of the FPA also contributed to enhanced macrophage precursor growth.

Conclusions:

The Fluid Processing Apparatus offers an improved platform for quantifying bone marrow macrophage precursors.
This novel method enhances colony growth, potentially leading to more accurate cell quantitation.
The findings suggest potential applications in space biology research and improved diagnostic techniques.