title: A Pitfall of the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethonyphenol)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay due to evaporation in wells on the edge of a 96 well plate.
abstract: The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5(3-carboxymethonyphenol)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) calorimetric assay is replacing the traditional 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay as a fast, one-step assay of cell viability. We have observed that evaporation of the outer wells of a 96 well plate increases the absorbancy by 52% compared to the inner wells. Filling the outer 2 rows of wells with media and replacement of the media prior to addition of the MTS reagent will, however, correct this inaccuracy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, NSW, Australia. mpatel@med.usyd.edu.au
authors.forename: Manish I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tuckerman
authors.forename: Qihan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D003124:Colorimetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013778:Tetrazolium Salts