Hello cell counters!
In this post, we would like to focus on the importance and usefulness of manual cell counting and how it is still preferred over automated cell counting method in some cases.
If you are interested in automated cell counting, please click the following links below.
Comparing manual and automated cell counters - Part 1
Comparing manual and automated cell counters - Part 2
Types of cell dye staining solution
Types of cell used for automated cell counter Part 1
Types of cell used for automated cell counter Part 2
Manual counting, or more specifically a hemocytometer, is still actively used today when it comes to cell counting. Although automated cell counters are replacing the manual counting, there are some laboratories still prefer manual counting and considered the standardized method.
To see hemocytometer cell counting information and hemocytometer calculation, click the link below.
What is a hemocytometer:
How to count cells with a hemocytometer:
Due to its consistency and dependability, hemocytometers are still widely used in laboratories today.
A few well-known benefits of hemocytometers are listed below:
1. The robust standard approach to cell counting
Hemocytometers are still regarded as the gold standard in cell counting, despite the sophisticated technology of automated cell counters. As a result, many laboratories continue to compare instrument results with hemocytometer results.
2. Flexibility
Hemocytometer can count nearly every type of cell, including bacteria, sperm, and red blood cells. As some automated cell counters are limited in counting small-sized cells, hemocytometer has no difficulty counting such small cells.
3. Maximum field of view
Hemocytometer displays the whole view of the slide where the cells are loaded, while some automated cell counters only take an image of a single portion in the middle.
4. No expertise required
An automated cell counter user may need some time to become accustomed to its functions and operation technique when using it for the first time. In some cases, learning every function may require training. On the other hand, hemocytometers are simple to use, thus no particular training is required.
5. The most economical choice for cell counting
When it comes to cost, manual cell counting is far more reasonable than automated cell counters. For such budget issue, a lot of cell counters still prefer to use hemocytometer.
Hemocytometers are used in many laboratories as the standardization for calibrating other devices for cell counting. According to one study that counted sperm concentration, hemocytometer was used as the control and found to have no significant difference between the counts acquired from automated instruments, like flow cytometers, and those obtained from hemocytometers [1]. “Not only for simple comparison, but hemocytometer is also used to calibrate the (automated) instruments for sperm counting in order to make sure that the sperm concentration is correct (A.Eljarah, 2013)”.
What types of cell do you count with hemocytometer?
Sperm
Red blood cell (RBC)
Bacteria
Yeast
Reference:
1. Usefulness of Hemocytometer as a Counting Chamber in a Computer ..., www.animal-reproduction.org/article/5b5a6046f7783717068b4684/pdf/animreprod-10-4-708.pdf. Accessed 1 Nov. 2023.
C-Chip (4ch)
Disposable hemocytometer
Cat. No. | Grid | Chamber depth (um) | Loading volume (uL) |
DHC-N04 | Neubauer Improved (NI) | 100 | 10 |
DHC-B04 | Burker Turk (BT) | 100 | 10 |
DHC-F04 | Fuchs Rosenthal (FR) | 200 | 20 |
C-chip (2ch)
Disposable hemocytometer
Cat. No. | Grid | Chamber depth (um) | Loading volume (uL) |
DHC-N01 | Neubauer Improved (NI) | 100 | 10 |
DHC-B01 | Burker (B) | 100 | 10 |
DHC-B02 | Burker Turk (BT) | 100 | 10 |
DHC-F01 | Fuchs Rosenthal (FR) | 200 | 20 |
DHC-M01 | Malassez (MA) | 200 | 20 |
S-chip
Disposable cell counting slide
Cat. No. | Grid | Chamber depth (um) | Loading volume (uL) |
DCS-S01 | Negative | 20 | 2 to 3 |
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