Quantifying DNA Damage with the AutoComet™
The comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis) has become a very popular pre-screening assay for the pharmaceutical industry due to its relative cost when compared to other fluorescence assays. Using any number of mathematical equations, researchers can quantify the amount of damage on a cellular level by measuring both single strand breaks and double strand breaks of the double helix. The assay works by isolating single cells, applying an electrophoresis treatment to draw the DNA strands away from the nucleus (thus elongating the cell into a comet-like shape), and then measuring the length of this elongation for each cell. Measurements vary from cell to cell as each cell is different. Therefore it is necessary to measure many cells to gain insight into the results of the test.

As with any statistical test, the size of the population is directly proportional to the accuracy of the conclusions, meaning larger sample sizes will produce more statistically valid measurements. And while it's possible to measure many cells "by hand" using off-the-shelf software (such as NIH Image and CometScore™), to measure enough cells to have a valid statistical sampling will cause fatigue in any devoted scientist, adding error to later measurements. This is where the AutoComet™ robot adds so much value to the proverbial equation. Not only does it bring speed to the table with automatic capture and segmentation of single cells, it also brings objectivity to each measurement by applying the same rules to each and every comet which it measures. While an experienced researcher can capture, isolate, and measure 50 comets in 20 minutes, the AutoComet™ can scan slides, capture fields of view, isolate single cells, and measure them at a rate of approximately 50 per minute! The software automatically extracts each comet, measures it, and inserts this valuable information into a database which is then presented to the researcher for review in a user-friendly interactive layout. Measurements within one, two, and three standard deviations are color-coded to present the researcher with accurate at-a-glance summary of results via the AutoComet™ laboratory information management software, accessible from anywhere using the Mozilla Firefox internet browser.

For more information, please visit http://autocomet.com