The Bacteria Viability/Cytotoxicity Assay Kit provides two-colour fluorescence staining of both live bacteria (green) and dead bacteria (red) using two probes, DMAO and EthD-III.

• Detect live and dead bacteria cells in a cell population simultaneously
• Rapid (15 minute) dye loading and measure without washing
• Perform viability and cytotoxicity assays at the same time
• Analysis compatible with flow cytometers and fluorescence microscopes using popular settings for fluorescein and propidium iodide

DMAO is a green-fluorescent nucleic acid dye which stains both live and dead bacteria with intact and damaged cell membranes. EthD-III is a red-fluorescent nucleic acid dye that only stains dead bacteria with damaged cell membranes. With an appropriate mixture of DMAO and EthD-III, bacteria with intact cell membranes stain fluorescent green, whereas bacteria with damaged cell membranes stain fluorescent red. The assay principles are general and applicable to most bacteria types.