Distinct volume distribution of viable and non-viable hybridoma cells: A flow cytometric study

Light scattering properties of hybridoma cells were examined with flow cytometry. Viable and dead cells form two distinct populations. The distribution of the two populations changes during a batch culture. the concentration of dead cells measured by flow cytometry correlates well to that measured by hemacytometer. The distribution based on small-angle light scattering is similar to the distribution based on volume as measured by Elzone particle counter. It thus appears that viable cells form the population with a larger mean cell volume. The results also indicate that the volume of viable cells decreases during the cultivation while that of dead cells remains relatively constant.