Comparing two automated high throughput viable-cell counting systems for cell culture applications.

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Cell Biology
• Biopharmaceutical Development

Background:

• Manual cell counting using a hemocytometer is the gold standard but is labor-intensive and subjective.
• Automated cell counting systems offer high-throughput solutions for mammalian cell line development.
• Biopharmaceutical companies require efficient methods for analyzing hundreds of cell lines annually.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of two automated viable-cell counters: Guava® easyCyte HT and CytoFLEX®.
• To assess their accuracy in monitoring Viable Cell Density (VCD) and cell viability.
• To compare their performance against manual counting methods.

Main Methods:

• Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO)-K1 cells were cultured in suspension.
• Viable Cell Density (VCD) and viability were monitored using Guava® easyCyte HT and CytoFLEX® automated systems.
• Results were compared to manual cell counting using a hemocytometer.

Main Results:

• Both Guava® easyCyte HT and CytoFLEX® demonstrated comparable specificity, accuracy, precision, and repeatability.
• Performance of automated systems was consistent with manual counting.
• Automated systems provide efficient alternatives for high-throughput cell analysis.

Conclusions:

• Automated cell counters are reliable for monitoring VCD and viability in mammalian cell lines.
• Guava® easyCyte HT and CytoFLEX® offer efficient and accurate alternatives to manual counting.
• These systems are particularly beneficial for biopharmaceutical companies with high sample volumes.