ASSAY FOR DISTINGUISHING LIVE AND DEAD CELLS

Image analysis methods and apparatus are used for distinguishing live and dead cells. The methods may involve segmenting an image to identify the region(s) occupied by one or more cells and determining the presence of a particular live-dead indicator feature within the region(s). In certain embodiments, the indicator feature is a cytoskeletal component such as tubulin. Prior to producing an image for analysis, cells may be treated with a marker that highlights the live-dead indicator in the image. In the case of tubulin, the marker will co-locate with tubulin and provide a signal that is captured in the image (e.g., a fluorescent emission).