XTT is a tetrazolium salt, similar to MTT. While the cytotoxic MTT has be dissolved in DMSO, XTT is water-soluble and not toxic itself. XTT is used to assess cell viability as a function of redox potential. The tetrazolium dye has also been used to stduy fungal cell damage, in testing antimicrobial susceptibility of staphylococci, and in Candida biofilm research. Actively respiring cells convert the water-soluble XTT to a water-soluble, orange coloured formazan product. Unlike MTT, XTT does not require solubilization prior to quantitation, thereby reducing the assay time in many viability assay protocols. Moreover, the sensitivity of the XTT reduction assay is reported to be similar to or better than that of the MTT reduction assay.

Applications of XTT:

• Screening of anti-HIV drugs
• Cytotoxic tests
• Quantification of TNF-a in bioassays
• Determination cell damage in fungi, e.g. by antimycotics
• Serum albumin may lead to an increased signal in the XTT assay

Additional Information

Additional Information