Detecting cell vitality

An apparatus for detecting vitality of cells in a sample, the apparatus comprising:

• a sample holder for containing a sample of cells, the sample holder comprising a pair of electrodes on opposing sides of a test volume;
• a voltage generator connected to the pair of electrodes;
• a light source arranged to illuminate the test volume;
• and
• a light detector arranged to detect a fluorescent response from the test volume upon illumination by the light source.

A method of detecting vitality of cells in a sample, the method comprising:

• applying a voltage across a pair of electrodes in a test volume containing the sample and a fluorescent dye to generate an electric field across the portion of the sample;
• illuminating the test volume;
• measuring a fluorescence response from the test volume over a period of time after applying the voltage;
• and
• detecting cells in the sample to be vital dependent on a change in their fluorescence response over the period of time.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program stored thereon, comprising instructions to cause a computer of an apparatus to perform a method of detecting vitality of cells in a sample when the computer executes the instructions, wherein the instructions configure the computer to:

• apply a voltage across a pair of electrodes in a test volume containing the sample and a fluorescent dye to generate an electric field across the portion of the sample;
• illuminate the test volume;
• measure a fluorescence response from the test volume over a period of time after applying the voltage;
• and
• detect cells in the sample to be vital dependent on a change in their fluorescence response over the period of time.