Methods and kits for obtaining a metabolic profile of living animal cells

A kit for obtaining a metabolic profile of animal cells, comprising:

• a) a testing device comprising a plurality of testing wells and a plurality of testing substrates, wherein each of said testing wells contains at least one unique testing substrate;
• b) a redox dye mix;
• and
• c) instructions for suspending animal cells in a suspension medium to produce a suspension of animal cells, and for using said suspension with said testing device and said redox dye mix for testing responses of said animal cells to each of said plurality of testing substrates to obtain a metabolic profile of said animal cells.

A method for obtaining a multiplexed metabolic profile of animal cells, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a testing device comprising a plurality of testing wells and a plurality of testing substrates, wherein each of said testing wells contains at least one unique testing substrate;
• b) suspending multiple samples comprising animal cells in multiple suspension media to produce multiple suspensions, wherein said multiple suspension media comprise three or more of a low serum medium, an intermediate serum medium, a high serum medium, a whole serum medium, a dialyzed serum medium, an amino acid-rich medium, an amino acid poor-medium, or a combination thereof;
• c) introducing said multiple suspensions of animal cells into said testing wells of said testing device;
• d) incubating said animal cells in said testing device under conditions suitable for depleting said suspension medium of extraneous substrates;
• e) introducing a redox dye mix into said testing wells of said testing device;
• f) incubating said animal cells in said testing device under conditions suitable for color development upon utilization of at least one testing substrate by said animal cells;
• and
• g) measuring said color development to obtain a multiplexed metabolic profile of said animal cells, comprising multiple metabolic profiles.

A method for observing effects of a candidate compound on substrate utilization by animal cells, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing a testing device comprising a plurality of testing wells containing a range of concentrations of a testing substrate and a range of concentrations of a candidate compound;
• b) suspending a sample comprising animal cells in a suspension medium to produce a suspension of animal cells, wherein said suspension medium is an aqueous solution comprising extraneous substrates;
• c) introducing said suspension of animal cells into said testing wells of said testing device;
• d) incubating said animal cells in said testing device under conditions suitable for depleting said suspension medium of said extraneous substrates;
• e) introducing a redox dye mix into said testing wells of said testing device;
• f) incubating said animal cells in said testing device under conditions suitable for color development upon utilization of said testing substrate by said animal cells;
• and
• g) measuring said color development to obtain a metabolic profile of said animal cells.