Average versus Viable Cell Multiplicity in Survival Determination for Mammalian Cells in Vitro

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Abstract
To determine radiation survival curves for mammalian cells cultured in vitro it is standard practice to irradiate the cells in microcolonies after a period of attachment. A method is proposed to determine the average multiplicity of viable cells, the parameter needed to convert microcolony surviving fraction to single cell surviving fraction. If the fractions of cells able to grow into macrocolonies (plating efficiency) and of those able to attach (attachment efficiency) are known, average viable cell multiplicity corresponding to a given average cellular multiplicity can be estimated with good accuracy. In cell lines with plating efficiency significantly lower than attachment efficiency, substitution of viable cell multiplicity for average cell multiplicity may help to avoid errors in interpretation of survival data. [Morris rat hepatoma cells, Chinese hamster lung V-79 cells and the La cells were studied.].