MTT assay protocol

Follow our MTT assay protocol below or use our validated kit to measure cell proliferation or cell viability. 

Save time with a validated kit

For robust results, we recommend our optimized MTT assay kit ab211091:

  • Ready to use reagents
  • Colorimetric
  • Validated on adherent cells and suspension cells
  • Quantitative Assay
  • Results in 3h 30 min. 

Expanded segment of the assay data at lower cell number per well:
HeLa cells were grown in DMEM media supplements with 10% FBS, harvested using trypsin and counted using Trypan blue and a hemocytometer. Cells were then serially diluted in a clear cell culture plate and incubated for 3 hours with MTT reagent at 37°C. After inubation, cells were treated with MTT solvent for 15 minutes at room temperature. Absorbance was measured at OD = 590 nm.


References:

  • Zhu Q  et al. The expression of Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines by epithelial ovarian cancer decreases growth potential. Oncol Lett 13:4302-4306 (2017)
  • ​Tang XJ  et al. Pluronic-based micelle encapsulation potentiates myricetin-induced cytotoxicity in human glioblastoma cells. Int J Nanomedicine 11:4991-5002 (2016)
  • Huang W  et al. Astragalus and Paeoniae Radix Rubra extract (APE) inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation by modulating transforming growth factor-ß/Smad pathway. Mol Med Rep 11:2569-77 (2015)

Alternatively, we recommend the protocol below.


Reagent preparation

Prepare MTT solution
MTT is soluble in water (10 mg/mL), ethanol (20 mg/mL), and buffered salt solutions and culture media (5 mg/mL). We recommend using a 5 mg/mL solution in PBS. Mix by vortexing or sonication.

Filter sterilize solution after adding MTT.

Store MTT solution at -20°C (stable for at least 6 months). Do not store at 4°C for more than a few days.

Prepare MTT solvent
4 mM HCl, 0.1% NP40 in isopropanol


Assay protocol

  1. Discard media from cell cultures. For adherent cells, carefully aspirate the media. For suspension cells, spin the 96 well plate at 1,000 xg, 4°C for 5 minutes in a microplate-compatible centrifuge and carefully aspirate the media.

    An alternative method is to add an equal volume of MTT solution to the existing media in the culture. Ensure that the same volume of existing media is present for each sample.
  2. Add 50 µL of serum-free media and 50 µL of MTT solution into each well.
  3. Incubate the plate at 37°C for 3 hours.
  4. After incubation, add 150 µL of MTT solvent into each well.
  5. Wrap plate in foil and shake on an orbital shaker for 15 minutes. Occasionally, pipetting of the liquid may be required to fully dissolve the MTT formazan.
  6. Read absorbance at OD=590 nm. Read plate within 1 hour.


Notes

  • Serum or phenol red present in the culture medium can generate background. If your sample contains serum or phenol red, set up sample background controls: 50 µL MTT reagent + 50 µL cell culture media (no cells).
  • Prepare parallel well(s) as solvent control and use same volume of solvent as for the treated cells.


Data analysis

Cell proliferation assays

  1. Average the duplicate reading for each sample.
  2. Subtract the culture medium background from your assay reading. This is the corrected absorbance.
  3. Amount of absorbance is proportional to cell number.


For cell counting, a standard curve can be established with known cell number and fixed incubation times with the assay reagent.

Cell cytotoxicity assays

  1. Average the duplicate reading for each sample.
  2. Subtract the culture medium background from your assay readings. This is the corrected absorbance.
  3. Calculate percentage cytotoxicity with the following equation, using corrected absorbance: % cytoxicity = (100 x (control - sample))