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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Viability Assays for Cells in Culture
Published on: January 20, 2014
Comparison of the neutral red and methylene blue assays to study cell growth in culture
1Department of Anatomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Abstract:
The neutral red and methylene blue in vitro cytotoxicity assays were compared under a variety of conditions using normal human ovarian epithelial cells to determine whether either assay is superior for studying cell growth. The results were standardized against a DNA spectrofluorometric assay. Although the assays were equivalent in reflecting cell number, each has specific advantages: while neutral red discriminates between viable and dead cells, the methylene blue assay is more sensitive and easier to perform.
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