Fast and easy cell counting for blood or tissue culture cells. Replaces labor intensive hemacytometer counting by allowing the researcher to quantitate cells centrifugally through "Packed Cell Volume" or PCV. Sample volumes as small as only a few hundred microliters can be used in the 1ml tubes which are calibrated at the tip in microliter volumes to accurately measure the PCV and give results instantly right out of any standard microcentrifuge.
Benefits and Features:
- Compatible with standard rotors
- Sample volume is 1 ml or less
- Capillary is calibrated in µl
- Sensitivity fits cell culture needs
What is PCV?
Measuring PCV or packed cell volume is a rapid method to quantify cells in small samples of blood. Due to the high cell density in blood a few µl of sample centrifuged within a glass capillary is sufficient to measure PCV. The density of cell cultures is usually lower and much larger sample volumes are needed (e.g. 10ml for existing glass PCV tubes.)PCV of 1% = 10 ml of pelleted cells per liter of medium.
The volume of the cell pellet is measured in µl. This value can be directly read from the calibrated capillary. It depends on the cell density and the sample volume. Dividing it by the sample volume yields % PCV. The % PCV value linearly correlates with the cell density.
Are dilutions needed?
No dilutions are necessary! If the packed cell volume exceeds the capacity of the capillary (e.g. for a 1 ml sample this is the case if the % PCV is higher than 0.5%), then the sample volume has to be reduced. Smaller sample volumes are used to analyze cultures with higher cell densities without an upper limitation.