The ability to obtain multi-parameter information on compound behaviour in the context of a living cell, quickly and easily, is important to the drug discovery process.

The new application note additionally provides more information concerning potential side effects such as potency, toxicity and specificity.

The combination of assays mentioned can be used to identify both cell cycle inhibitors and apoptotic inducers, as well as characterise their EC50 and quantify the percentage of cells affected.

In addition, the detection of sub-population effects for these compounds at the single cell level is possible.

The application note describes results for over 200 test cytoactive compounds in which the microcapillary-based Guava Easycyte system was used to measure Caspase 3/7 and 8 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential flux, phosphatidylserine translocation, membrane permeability and cell cycle disruption.

The novel multiplex assay approach is demonstrated to offer a better understanding of the mechanism of action for a given compound and to provide more information concerning potential side effects such as potency, toxicity and specificity.

The Guava EasyCyte is a five-parameter microplate cytometer that requires only a few microlitres of sample volume, which saves on expensive cells, reagents, and compounds.

The system generates results with less than a day's training.

Current screening assays available for the Guava Easycyte systems include cell counting and viability, cell marker expression, cytotoxicity, cell cycle, CD4/CD8 absolute counting and a suite of assays for apoptosis assessment and cell tracking.