XTT Assay Kit

Product details

XTT Assay Kit ab232856 provides an easy to use tool for use with cell cultures to study changes in the number of cells and their metabolic activity. This provides insights into cell viability, cell proliferation, and cytotoxicity.

XTT assay principle
The XTT assay is based on the extracellular reduction of XTT by NADH produced in the mitochondria via trans-plasma membrane electron transport and an electron mediator. Reduction of XTT during the assay produces a water-soluble orange-colored formazan product which dissolves directly into the culture medium, eliminating the need for an additional solubilization step (as is required in MTT assay kit ab211091, but not in MTS assay kit ab197010). The formazan product can be detected using an absorbance-based microplate reader (450 nm).

As the reagents used in the XTT and their products are non-toxic and the assay does not involve cell lysis, the XTT assay can be used to measure multiple timepoints or for continual measurement.

XTT (2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide) is a tetrazolium-based compound like the reagents used in the MTT assay and the MTS assay.

XTT assay protocol summary
- add XTT mixture to cell culture wells
- mix for 1 min
- incubate for 2-4 hrs
- mix for 1 min
- analyze with a plate reader