Method for assaying for natural killer, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte and neutrophil-mediated killing of target cells using real-time microelectronic cell sensing technology

A method of measuring cytolytic activity comprising:

• a) providing a device capable of monitoring cell-substrate impedance operably connected to an impedance analyzer, wherein said device comprises two or more wells for receiving cells;
• b) adding target cells to said two or more wells, wherein at least one of said two or more wells is a control well and at least one of said two or more wells is a test well;
• c) adding effector cells to said test well and control well;
• d) monitoring impedance of said test well and control well and optionally determining a cell index from said impedance, wherein said monitoring impedance comprises measuring impedance during at least one time point before and at least one time point after said adding effector cells;
• and
• e) determining viability of said target cells after said adding effector cells by comparing said impedance of said test well and control well or optionally said cell index of said test well and control well at said at least one time point after adding effector cells to said test well and control well or optionally said cell index of said test well or control well at said at least one time point before adding effector cells.