The COMET software uses the "Comet-Assay", a fast, highly sensitive fluorescent method, to examine damage and/or repair of DNA at an individual cell level. This assay has critically important applications in the fields of toxicology and epidemiology. These range from aging and clinical investigations to genetic toxicology and molecular epidemiology.  

BENEFITS

The Comet-Assay can be effective on extremely low numbers of eukaryotic cells (<10,000 cells). 

The time interval from execution to analysis is relatively short (within a few hours).

It is highly sensitivity requiring <5 cGy gamma rays.

Data gathered is on a single cell basis.

The method is fast, simple, and economical.

ANALYSIS

Single cell computerized analysis allows for appreciation of the slight differences that other methods would have difficultly obtaining.

Images captured from the microscope use a special frame integration CCD camera designed to capture the low levels of fluorochrome light for the analysis. 

The Comet software allows you to set the gray level threshold for separating the cells from background.  COMET will automatically extract all the cells and display them to you thus allowing you to remove any unwanted ones.

Image acquisition, cell selection and comet analysis may be performed at different times in order to optimize laboratory activities and research requirements.

FEATURES

Comet analysis, in only a few seconds, measures the following statistics:

All of these statistics are easily transferable to Microsoft Excel (or other office type programs) by a simple push of a button.

INSTRUMENTATION

There is no need of special instrumentation to perform the Comet-assay. Many laboratories already have the necessary equipment installed.