What is a WST-8 assay?

WST-8 assays are colorimetric, non-radioactive assays for measuring cell viability and proliferation. WST-8 tetrazolium salts are reduced by cellular dehydrogenases to an orange formazan product that is soluble in tissue culture medium. The amount of formazan produced is directly proportional to the number of living cells by monitoring absorbance increase at 460 nm.