Non-invasive, electro-orientation-based viability assay using optically transparent electrodes for individual fission yeast cells.

A non-invasive assay of cylindrical yeast cell viability based on electro-orientation (EO) in an alternating electric field was developed, in which cell viability can be determined by each cell's EO direction without the need for reagents. A cell suspension of a few microliters was sandwiched between a pair of optically transparent indium-tin-oxide (ITO) plate electrodes. Observation under a light microscope enabled easy identification of EO based on cell shape, e.