Advanced Calcein AM Cell Viability Kit

This kit combines Calcein AM with 7-AAD to allow for easy and simultaneous labeling of live, membrane compromised, and dead cells within a single sample. Samples can be analyzed using a flow cytometer or fluorescent microscope.

Figure 1. Live cells with green fluorescence (right side of histogram) can be distinguished from dead cells (unstained, left side of histogram). Forward and side scatter graphs are also shown. Jurkat cells were stained with 1 µM Calcein AM and analyzed in a flow cytometer with a FL-1 99% attenuation filter. 93.0% of the live cells stained positive with Calcein AM (A, right), while 0.0% of ethanol-killed cells stained positive (B, right). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:87-92.
Figure 2. Using 7-AAD, live cells (unstained, left side of each histogram) can easily be distinguished from dead/membrane compromised cells exhibiting red fluorescence (right side of each histogram). Jurkat cells were stained with 7-AAD, and analyzed using a flow cytometer in FL-3. Only 4% of untreated cells (A) are dead compared with 97.6% of ethanol-treated cells (B). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:30-31.
Figure 3. Untreated Jurkat suspension cells were dually stained with 1 µM Calcein AM for 60 minutes at 37°C to detect live cells. Cells were then stained with 4 µM 7-AAD for 10 minutes on ice to detect membrane-compromised or dead cells. Panel A reveals green fluorescence-stained live cells. A few dead cells stained red due to 7-AAD uptake. Panel B shows a corresponding DIC image, which reveals cell morphology. Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg (ICT 226:95).
Figure 4. Jurkat suspension cells were dually stained with 1 µM Calcein AM to detect live cells, and then stained with 4 µM 7-AAD to detect membrane-compromised or dead cells. Untreated live cells stained green (A). Occasional dead cells stained red due to 7-AAD uptake. Ethanol-killed cells all stained red due to 7-AAD uptake (B). A 50/50 mixture of the untreated and ethanol-killed cells shows both green and red cells (C). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:95.
Figure 5. Jurkat cells were treated with DMSO (non-induced) or 1 µM staurosporine to induce apoptosis, then dually stained with 1 µM Calcein AM to detect live cells and 4 µM 7-AAD to detect membrane-compromised or dead cells. All of the non-induced cells fluoresced green only (A). Most of the induced cells were green (live), many cells were both green and red (compromised membranes, likely early apoptotic), and some were red (dead). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:95.
Figure 6. Live cells fluoresce green due to esterase cleavage of Calcein AM, but do not fluoresce red as 7-AAD is excluded (LR, lower right). Live, membrane-compromised cells fluoresce green due to esterase cleavage of Calcein AM, and fluoresce red due to 7-AAD entry and DNA binding (UR, upper right). Dead cells fluoresce red due to 7-AAD entry, but lack active esterases and do NOT fluoresce green as Calcein AM is not cleaved (UL, upper left). Unstained cells, no fluorescence (LL, lower left).
Figure 7. Jurkat suspension cells were stained with Calcein AM, followed by 7-AAD, then analyzed in a flow cytometer with a FL-1 99% attenuation filter. Most live cells stained with Calcein AM (A; LR, lower right, 89.4%). No dead cells stained positive for Calcein (B; LR, lower right). Most dead cells stained positive for 7-AAD (B: UL, upper left, 98.9%). A mixture of live and ethanol-killed cells (C) shows both live (LR, 73.1%) and killed (UL, 23.0%) cells. Data of Dr. K. Strandberg.
Figure 8. Jurkat cells were treated with DMSO (A) or staurosporine (B), then stained with Calcein AM followed by 7-AAD. Calcein was analyzed on the 99% attenuated FL-1 channel, and 7-AAD on the FL-3 channel. Live cells fluoresce green (lower right of density plot A). Dually stained green and red fluorescing cells are membrane compromised (likely mid to late apoptotic) (upper right of density plot B). Necrotic cells fluoresce red (upper left, A and B). Data of Dr. Strandberg.
Figure 1. Live cells with green fluorescence (right side of histogram) can be distinguished from dead cells (unstained, left side of histogram). Forward and side scatter graphs are also shown. Jurkat cells were stained with 1 µM Calcein AM and analyzed in a flow cytometer with a FL-1 99% attenuation filter. 93.0% of the live cells stained positive with Calcein AM (A, right), while 0.0% of ethanol-killed cells stained positive (B, right). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:87-92.
Figure 1. Live cells with green fluorescence (right side of histogram) can be distinguished from dead cells (unstained, left side of histogram). Forward and side scatter graphs are also shown. Jurkat cells were stained with 1 µM Calcein AM and analyzed in a flow cytometer with a FL-1 99% attenuation filter. 93.0% of the live cells stained positive with Calcein AM (A, right), while 0.0% of ethanol-killed cells stained positive (B, right). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:87-92.
Figure 2. Using 7-AAD, live cells (unstained, left side of each histogram) can easily be distinguished from dead/membrane compromised cells exhibiting red fluorescence (right side of each histogram). Jurkat cells were stained with 7-AAD, and analyzed using a flow cytometer in FL-3. Only 4% of untreated cells (A) are dead compared with 97.6% of ethanol-treated cells (B). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:30-31.
Figure 3. Untreated Jurkat suspension cells were dually stained with 1 µM Calcein AM for 60 minutes at 37°C to detect live cells. Cells were then stained with 4 µM 7-AAD for 10 minutes on ice to detect membrane-compromised or dead cells. Panel A reveals green fluorescence-stained live cells. A few dead cells stained red due to 7-AAD uptake. Panel B shows a corresponding DIC image, which reveals cell morphology. Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg (ICT 226:95).
Figure 4. Jurkat suspension cells were dually stained with 1 µM Calcein AM to detect live cells, and then stained with 4 µM 7-AAD to detect membrane-compromised or dead cells. Untreated live cells stained green (A). Occasional dead cells stained red due to 7-AAD uptake. Ethanol-killed cells all stained red due to 7-AAD uptake (B). A 50/50 mixture of the untreated and ethanol-killed cells shows both green and red cells (C). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:95.
Figure 5. Jurkat cells were treated with DMSO (non-induced) or 1 µM staurosporine to induce apoptosis, then dually stained with 1 µM Calcein AM to detect live cells and 4 µM 7-AAD to detect membrane-compromised or dead cells. All of the non-induced cells fluoresced green only (A). Most of the induced cells were green (live), many cells were both green and red (compromised membranes, likely early apoptotic), and some were red (dead). Data courtesy of Dr. Kristi Strandberg, ICT 226:95.
Figure 6. Live cells fluoresce green due to esterase cleavage of Calcein AM, but do not fluoresce red as 7-AAD is excluded (LR, lower right). Live, membrane-compromised cells fluoresce green due to esterase cleavage of Calcein AM, and fluoresce red due to 7-AAD entry and DNA binding (UR, upper right). Dead cells fluoresce red due to 7-AAD entry, but lack active esterases and do NOT fluoresce green as Calcein AM is not cleaved (UL, upper left). Unstained cells, no fluorescence (LL, lower left).
Figure 7. Jurkat suspension cells were stained with Calcein AM, followed by 7-AAD, then analyzed in a flow cytometer with a FL-1 99% attenuation filter. Most live cells stained with Calcein AM (A; LR, lower right, 89.4%). No dead cells stained positive for Calcein (B; LR, lower right). Most dead cells stained positive for 7-AAD (B: UL, upper left, 98.9%). A mixture of live and ethanol-killed cells (C) shows both live (LR, 73.1%) and killed (UL, 23.0%) cells. Data of Dr. K. Strandberg.
Figure 8. Jurkat cells were treated with DMSO (A) or staurosporine (B), then stained with Calcein AM followed by 7-AAD. Calcein was analyzed on the 99% attenuated FL-1 channel, and 7-AAD on the FL-3 channel. Live cells fluoresce green (lower right of density plot A). Dually stained green and red fluorescing cells are membrane compromised (likely mid to late apoptotic) (upper right of density plot B). Necrotic cells fluoresce red (upper left, A and B). Data of Dr. Strandberg.

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Product Manual
Safety Data Sheet

SKU: 9154

Size: 25 - 250 Tests
1-2 business days
Price:
$290.00

The Advanced Calcein AM Cell Viability kit developed by ImmunoChemistry Technologies, LLC (ICT) combines Calcein AM with 7-aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) to allow for easy and simultaneous labeling of live, membrane compromised, and dead cells within a single sample. Assessment of cell viability is a critical step during the evaluation of novel drug treatments and therapies for potential cytotoxic properties. With cell viability assessment playing a central role in countless research and environmental safety studies, there is an ever present need for simple, straightforward analysis methods capable of distinguishing between live and dead cells.

Calcein AM is a membrane permeant, fluorogenic, reagent widely recognized for its utility in assessing the relative cell viability status of different cell populations. Calcein AM’s overall hydrophobic nature allows it to readily traverse the lipid bilayer structure of the cell membrane in a concentration gradient- dependent manner. Once inside the cell, the hydrophobic and non-fluorescent Calcein AM is quickly hydrolyzed by intracellular esterases that are active in live cells. This leads to the cleavage and removal of two non-polar acetoxymethyl ester (AM) groups. Once the AM groups have been cleaved, the resulting polar (hydrophilic) and now fluorescence-capable Calcein dye molecule is efficiently retained within the confines of the cell membrane. Polar dye molecules will naturally be excluded from passive diffusion back out of the cell again due to the hydrophobic lipid bilayer composition of the cell membrane. Dead cells lack active esterases and do not cleave Calcein AM.

The large quantum yield of Calcein dyes enables them to be readily detected within widely used applications such as flow cytometers and fluorescence microscopes. The degree of fluorescence correlates with relative cell viability status. For microscopy usage, Hoechst 33342 is included with the kit to concurrently label nuclei after labeling with Calcein. Because Calcein alone will detect cells that are alive, but some of which could possess compromised cell membrane structure and thus be in the process of dying, it is possible to obtain an overly positive picture of the overall health status of the cell population.

Loss of cell membrane integrity, often indicative of necrosis or late stage apoptosis, can be detected using the vital staining dye, 7-AAD, a red fluorescing live/dead stain. This dye easily penetrates cell membrane-compromised cells, binding tightly to GC rich regions of DNA. Combining these two different types of fluorescent cell-status-indicator reagents within a single test allows for better resolution of the live and dead cell populations by making it possible to identify the percentage of cells that are 7-AAD positive versus 7-AAD negative within the green fluorescing Calcein positive cell populations.

Calcein optimally excites at 494 nm with maximal emission at 517 nm. Hoechst 33342 can be seen using a UV-filter with excitation at 365 nm and emission at 480 nm. 7-AAD can be efficiently excited at 485-495 nm, but exhibits an optimal emission well into the red fluorescence range (647 nm). This significant difference in fluorescence emission wavelength between the green fluorescing Calcein and the red fluorescing 7-AAD live/dead dye simplifies flow cytometer gating and compensation. Live cells retaining hydrolyzed Calcein are monitored on the FL-1 channel, while membrane compromised or dead cells that have taken up 7-AAD are monitored using the FL-3 channel. Combining the Calcein AM cell viability dye with a membrane integrity dye like 7-AAD makes it easy to distinguish between live, live but membrane-compromised, and dead cells within a single sample.

Calcein AM, 7-AAD
Intracellular esterases, GC-rich DNA
494 nm / 520 nm, 546 nm / 647 nm
Flow cytometry, Fluorescence microscope, fluorescence plate reader
Cell culture
Calcein AM at ≤-20°C, other components at 2-8°C
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United States
  1. Prepare samples and controls.
  2. Dilute 10X Cellular Assay Buffer 1:10 with diH2O.
  3. Reconstitute Calcein AM with 50 µL DMSO.
  4. Dilute 2 mM Calcein AM stock solution 1:5 by adding 200 µL diH2O or PBS, forming a 400 µM stock solution.
  5. Stain with Calcein AM at a concentration between 1-10 µM. The ideal staining concentration can vary based on cell line, application, etc., and should be determined by the end user. The recommended sample size is 0.4 mL.
  6. Add Calcein AM to each sample and mix gently. For example, to stain a 0.4 mL sized sample with 10 µM Calcein AM, add 10 µL of the 400 µM stock solution.
  7. Incubate approximately 1 hour.
  8. Reconstitute 7-AAD with 260 µL DMSO, forming a 200X stock concentrate.
  9. Add 7-AAD to each sample at 1:200 (e.g., add 2 µL to 400 µL of sample).
  10. Analzye with a flow cytometer or fluorescence microscope. Calcein AM excites at 494 nm and emits at 520 nm. 7-AAD excites at 546 nm and emits at 647 nm.
  • Calcein AM Reagent, 1 vial, #6696
  • 7-Aminoactinomycin D (7-AAD) vital dye, 0.26 mg, 2 vials, #6163
  • Hoechst 33342, 1 vial, #639
  • 10X Cellular Assay Buffer, 60 mL, 1 bottle, #6695
  • Kit Manual

    • Bulk Order Advanced Calcein AM Cell Viability Kit

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