Use of the Hemacytometer for the Determination of Cell Numbers

Use of the Hemacytometer for the Determination of Cell Numbers


Counting cells by the use of a hemacytometer is a convenient
and practical method of determining cell numbers in the case that the
Coulter counter is out-of-order temporarily.  (It is not that bad.)  
The hemacytometer consists of two chambers, each of which is divided
into nine 1.0 mm squares.    A cover glass is supported 0.1 mm over
these squares so that the total volume over each square is
1.0 mm x 0.1 mm or 0.1 mm3, or 10-4 cm3.  Since 1 cm3 is approximately
equivalent to 1 ml, the cell concentration per ml  will be the average
count per square x 104.

Hemacytometer counts are subject to the following sources of error:
1.  Unequal cell distribution in the sample
2.  Improper filling of chambers (too much or too little)
3.  Failure to adopt a convention for counting cells  in contact with            
the boundaries lines or with each other (be consistent)
4.  Statistical error

With careful attention to detail, the overall error can be reduced to
about 15%.  It is assumed that the total volume in the chamber represents
a random sample.  This will not be a valid assumption unless the
suspension consists of individual well-separated cells.
Cell distribution in the hemacytometer chamber depends on the particle
number, not particle mass.  Thus, cell clumps will distribute in the
same way as single cells and can distort the result.  Unless 90% or more
of the cells are free from contact with other cells, the count should be
repeated with a new sample.   A sample will not be representative if the
cells are allowed to settle before a sample is taken.   Always mix the
cell suspension thoroughly before sampling. 
The cell suspension should be diluted so that each such square 
has between 20 - 50 cells (2-5 x 10 5  cells/ml).  A total of 
300 - 400 cells should be counted, since the counting error is approximated
by the square root of the total count.   A common convention  is to
count cells that touch the middle lines (of the triple lines) to the
left and top of the square, but do not count cells similarly located 
to the right and bottom.
Hemacytometer counts do not distinguish between living and dead cells. 
A number of stains are useful to make this distinction.  Trypan blue
among others  (Erythrosin B, Nigrosin) can be used: the nuclei of damaged
or dead cells take up the stain.  If more than 20% of the nuclei are
stained, the result is probably  significant.  Although the trypan stain
distinction has been questioned, it is simple and gives a good approximation.

Materials
1.  Clean hemacytometer and cover glass, or cover slips
2.  Pasteur Pipets or Transfer Pipets
3.  Balanced Salt Solution (BBS) or PBS
4.  Trypan blue, 0.4% in BBS (or PBS)
5.  Microscope
5.  Tubes
6.  Hand counter (Colony counter can be used)
7.  Cell suspension 

Procedure
1.  Dilute 0.2 ml of Trypan blue with 0.8 ml of BBS.
2.  Place cover glass over hemacytometer chamber.
3.  Transfer 0.5  ml of agitated cell suspension  to a 15 ml tube
and add 0.5 ml of diluted trypan blue.
4. With a Pasteur or transfer pipet, fill both chambers of the
hemacytometer (without overflow) by capillary action.  Cells will
settle in the tube and in the pipet by gravity within a few seconds. 
Work quickly.
5.  Using the microscope with a 10X ocular (and a 10X objective),
count the cells in each of  10 squares (1 mm2 each).  If over 10% of
the cells represent clumps, repeat entire sequence.  If fewer than
200 or more than 500 cells are present in the 10 squares, repeat with
a more suitable dilution factor.
6.  Calculate the number of cells per ml, and the total number of
cells,  in the original culture as follows:
Cells/ml = average count per square x 104
Total cells = cells per ml X any dilution factor X total volume of
cell preparation from which the sample was taken.
7.  Repeat count to check reproducibility (+/- 15%).

References
1.  Berkson, J., T. B. Magath and M. Hurn (1939).  Am. J. Physiol. 128, 309.
2.  Sanford. K.K., W.R. Earle, V.J. Evans, H.K. Waltz and J.E. Shannon (1951).
3.  Absher, M. in Tissue Culture Methods and Applications, Eds. Kruse, P.F. and Patterson, M.K., Jr. Academic Press, N.Y., 1973, p.395.


From the Laboratory of Dr. Allan Bradley                        
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas