A method of determining information about cell viability and other characteristics
relating to cell membrane permeability is disclosed. The method involves determining
the effect of a cell on current flow and relating that effect to a known standard
which standard may be a known healthy cell and thereby deducing the viability of
the cell being tested. The cells being tested can be subjected to different environmental
conditions such as surrounding chemicals, temperature, pH and pressure to determine
the effects of such conditions on cell viability and/or cell permeability. The
cell being tested can be in a cell suspension, grown on s ubstarte, in tissue in
vitro or in tissue in vivo. The method provides substantially instantaneous results
and need not include the use of dyes or other markers.
