In toxicology studies, cell counting plays a major role in computing the rate cells growth, proliferation and annihilation is several toxic environments.

Automatic evaluation of living cell population requires accurate cell segmentation and computation of the number of cells continuously in real time, which is difficult when cell segmentation is based on amplitude (intensity) contrast mechanisms, particularly in the case of thin cells, almost invisible when observed with conventional bright-field microscope objectives. Using markers produces toxic side effects on the living cells and thus biases estimation of the cells viability.

BioPhase® features automatic cell counting capability based on 3D cell representation, and using conventional bright field objectives with no markers. Time lapse studies can be carried out on cell cultures in their natural growing environment (like plastic wells and Petri dishes).