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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Determining Cell Number During Cell Culture using the Scepter Cell Counter
09:33

Determining Cell Number During Cell Culture using the Scepter Cell Counter

Published on: November 26, 2010

Determining cell number during cell culture using the Scepter cell counter.

Kathleen Ongena1, Chandreyee Das, Janet L Smith

  • 1Bioscience Division, Millipore Inc.

Journal of Visualized Experiments : Jove
|December 14, 2011
PubMed
Summary

Manual cell counting using hemocytometers is time-consuming and prone to errors. Automated cell counters offer accuracy but are often expensive. The Scepter cell counter provides an affordable, handheld solution for precise cell concentration determination.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biotechnology
  • Laboratory Science

Background:

  • Accurate cell counting is crucial for reproducible in vitro cell culture experiments, impacting cell health monitoring, proliferation rates, and assay performance.
  • Traditional hemocytometry, while inexpensive, is laborious, time-consuming, and susceptible to user bias and errors, leading to inconsistent results.
  • Automated cell counting devices exist but are often prohibitively expensive for many researchers, limiting their adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce the Scepter cell counter, a novel automated handheld device designed to overcome the limitations of manual cell counting.
  • To highlight the Scepter cell counter's ability to provide accurate, consistent, and rapid cell counts at a lower cost compared to traditional automated systems.

Main Methods:

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Determination of Mammalian Cell Counts, Cell Size and Cell Health Using the Moxi Z Mini Automated Cell Counter
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Determination of Mammalian Cell Counts, Cell Size and Cell Health Using the Moxi Z Mini Automated Cell Counter

Published on: June 21, 2012

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Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Determining Cell Number During Cell Culture using the Scepter Cell Counter
09:33

Determining Cell Number During Cell Culture using the Scepter Cell Counter

Published on: November 26, 2010

Counting and Determining the Viability of Cultured Cells
05:47

Counting and Determining the Viability of Cultured Cells

Published on: June 23, 2008

Determination of Mammalian Cell Counts, Cell Size and Cell Health Using the Moxi Z Mini Automated Cell Counter
13:16

Determination of Mammalian Cell Counts, Cell Size and Cell Health Using the Moxi Z Mini Automated Cell Counter

Published on: June 21, 2012

  • The Scepter cell counter utilizes the Coulter principle of impedance-based particle detection in a miniaturized format.
  • It employs a combination of analog and digital hardware for sensing, signal processing, data storage, and graphical display.
  • Disposable tips with microfabricated sensing zones enable cell size and volume discrimination with high resolution.

    • Main Results:

    • The Scepter cell counter offers the automation and accuracy of Coulter counting.
    • It presents cell population statistics graphically as histograms, aiding in data interpretation.
    • The device provides a cost-effective alternative to large, benchtop automated cell counters.

    Conclusions:

    • The Scepter cell counter addresses the need for accurate, consistent, and fast cell counting in research settings.
    • Its handheld, automated nature and lower cost make advanced cell counting technology more accessible to researchers.
    • This device can improve experimental reproducibility and efficiency in various cell-based applications.