SKBR-3, a breast cancer cell was prepared on a hemocytometer and observed under Foldscope. Trypan blue staining was done and both viable and dead cells can be seen.

Procedure:

(1) Place 100 µl of cell suspension in a cryo-vial.

(2) Add equal parts of 0.4% trypan blue dye to the cell suspension to obtain a 1 to 2 dilution (example: 50 µl of cells to 50 µl of trypan blue) and mix by pipetting up and down.

(3) With the cover slip already in place, fill one side of a hemacytometer counter with the cell suspension by placing the tip of the pipette at the notch.

Blue cells are the nonviable cells.