TC10 Automated Cell Counter from Bio-Rad

Bio-Rad’s TC10 automated cell counter uses disposable slides and a CCD camera to count cells based on the analyses of captured images. This is the same principle used in hemacytometers and several other automated cell counters, such as Life Technologies’ Countess and Roche’s Cedex SX. TC10 is a compact instrument taking approximately 1 square foot of bench space (not accounting for separate compact power adapter and optional printer). The TC10 features a monochrome LCD screen, keys for navigation, slide port in the front, with the power switch and two USB ports on the right side.

Ten microliters of cell suspension may be directly loaded into the chambers of disposable slides or mixed first with 0.4% trypan blue solution at 1:1 ratio. Each slide has two chambers, which are counted separately. Once the loaded slide is inserted into the slide port, the TC10 automatically focuses on the cells, detects the presence of trypan blue (if added) and provides the count in approximately 30 seconds. The results are displayed as total cell count (number of cells per ml). If trypan blue is detected, the instrument accounts for the dilution and shows live cell count and percent viability. The data from the current cell count may be printed using an optional thermal printer. In addition, the histograms of cell size distribution may be displayed. For samples with trypan blue, separate histograms are shown for live and dead cells. There is also an option to display the captured image on the LCD screen or export it to a USB flash drive as a JPEG file. By default, the TC10 stores 100 counts in its memory; those counts may also be exported to a flash drive.

I have been using the TC10 to determine cell concentration and viability for a number of transformed cell lines of epithelial (A549), monocytic (THP-1) and lymphocytic (Jurkat and HSB2-2) origin. After the initial comparison of the results with manual hemacytometer for each cell line, I completely switched to using the TC10 for those applications. Counting cells with TC10 is not free: Bio-Rad’s list price of $225 for a 5x30 pack of slides (each with 2 chambers) translates to $0.75 per count. However, the cost is worth the saved time. Unfortunately, the TC10 does not provide accurate counts or viability for freshly isolated primary cells, such as mouse splenocytes or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which is an apparent limitation of the instrument. Apparently, the primary cells present an insurmountable problem for TC10 due to their heterogeneity and relatively small size. The problem is particularly obvious in the presence of trypan blue since TC10 counts most of the cells as dead. Hopefully, Bio-Rad will find a solution to this issue by updating the firmware, but for now I will keep using hemacytometer for primary cells.