Abcam, ab228554, Cell Counting Kit 8 (WST-8 / CCK8)

Size: 1000Test / 5000Tests
Cell Counting Kit 8 / CCK-8 Assay Kit / WST-8 Assay Kit ab228554 is a no-wash, mix-and-read, cell viability assay. The ready-to-use solution is added to cell cultures for a 1-4 hour incubation, with a colorimetric (460 nm) readout proportional to the number of living cells. - CCK-8 / WST-8 tetrazolium is reduced by cellular dehydrogenases in living cells and has very low cytotoxicity - The CCK-8 assay has higher sensitivity than other tetrazolium salt-based assays, such as MTT, MTS or XTT - Highly cited in >200 publications
Key facts
Detection method:Colorimetric,
Sample types:Suspension cells, Adherent cells,
Assay Platform:Microplate reader

Product details:
Cell Counting Kit 8 / CCK-8 Assay Kit / WST-8 Assay Kit ab228554 provides a convenient and robust way of performing a cell viability assay.
How the CCK-8 assay works
The CCK-8 assay uses a water-soluble tetrazolium salt to quantify the number of live cells by producing an orange formazan dye upon bio-reduction in the presence of an electron carrier. WST-8 solution is added directly to the test cells, no pre-mixing of components is required. WST-8 tetrazolium salt is reduced by cellular dehydrogenases to an orange formazan product that is soluble in tissue culture medium.
The amount of formazan produced is directly proportional to the number of living cells by monitoring absorbance increase at 460 nm. The excellent stability and little cytotoxicity of WST-8 solution make the kit useful for the assays that require long incubation (such as 24 to 48 hours).
CCK8 assay protocol summary
- Prepare cells in a 96-well plate (100 µL/well).
- Add 10 µL of WST-8 Solution to each well.
- Incubate at 37°C for 1 - 4 hours.
- Monitor absorbance at OD = 460 nm.
How other researchers are using CCK8 Kit ab228554
Cell Counting Kit 8 (WST-8 / CCK8) has been used in a variety of sample type including:
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs) and Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs)
- Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
- Esophageal carcinoma cell lines (ESCC)
References: 1- Lin H et al. 2024; 2- Wu WC et al. 2023; 3- Wei D et al. 2023
Related and recommended products
See other alternative kits to assess cell viability and proliferation:
- XTT Assay Kit
ab232856
- MTS Assay Kit (Cell Proliferation) (Colorimetric)
ab197010
- MTT Assay Kit (Cell Proliferation)
ab211091
Explore
our curated range of easy-to-use, efficient and fast cell viability assays

Properties and Storage Information:
Shipped at conditions-Blue Ice, Appropriate short-term storage duration-Up to 12 months, Appropriate short-term storage conditions-+4°C, Appropriate long-term storage conditions--20°C, Storage information--20°C