Fluorescence-based assays allow researchers to discriminate between apoptotic and non-apoptotic cells based on interrogation of caspase activity and cell membrane permeability within a single assay
Guava Technologies has introduced Caspase 3/7 and 8 assay kits enabling rapid and sensitive detection of the initial and mid-stages of programmed cell death.
Designed for use with the Guava EasyCyte benchtop microcytometry system, the new fluorescence-based assays allow researchers to easily discriminate between apoptotic and non-apoptotic cells based upon the simultaneous interrogation of caspase activity and cell membrane permeability within a single assay.
The EasyCyte's 96-well microplate analysis format enables a researcher to easily perform hundreds of cell-based assays in a single day.
Suitable for use with both adherent and suspension cells, Guava Caspase assays are described as ideally suited for applications in drug discovery and development.
They are sensitive enough to detect even naturally occuring apoptosis at 2-6% of the overall population, while still delivering robust, reproducible and specific detection of Caspase 3/7 or 8 enzyme activity.
Typically staining and data acquisition for a complete 96-well microplate can be achieved in under three hours with the Caspase assay kits and the Guava EasyCyte system's integrated ExpressPlus software.
The new Guava Caspase assays run on the Guava EasyCyte, a compact and flexible five-parameter system.
Because only a few microlitres of sample are required, the Guava EasyCyte saves precious and expensive cells, reagents and compounds.
The system is so easy to use that results are generated with less than a day's training, says Guava.
The EasyCyte system runs each of Guava's turnkey assays, enabling fast and easy measurements of cell counting/viability, GFP expression and viability, apoptosis, cell cycle analysis, antigen detection, cell tracking, and more.
