Trypan Blue Powder

The trypan blue dye is an azo dye, derived from toluidine. It is soluble in water and has a molecular weight of 961 g/mol.

Trypan blue has been used:

• in cell viability assay
• to stain plant tissue in order to to visualize cell death

The trypan blue dye is useful to differentiate the dead and live cells based on the cell′s ability to take up or exclude the dye. A viable cell is assumed to possess an intact cell membrane and hence excludes this dye and the cytoplasm appears clear. While on the other hand non-viable cells shows a blue cytoplasm.

To make a cell viability solution, add the T6146 Trypan Blue powder to a clean and dry glass or plastic container of appropriate capacity. Add a suitable solvent, such as sterile distilled water, to the container with the Trypan Blue powder. Stir the solution vigorously using a stir bar or a glass rod until the powder has completely dissolved. A 0.4% solution is a common concentration for typical cell viability assessment. For example, to make 100 mL of a 0.4% solution, add 400 milligrams (0.4 g) to 99.6 mL solvent.