Viable cells will take up the dye by active transport and
incorporate the dye into lysosomes, whereas non-viable
cells will not take up the dye. After the cells have been
allowed to incorporate the dye they are briefly washed
or fixed. The incorporated dye is then liberated from the
cells in an acidified ethanol solution. An increase or
decrease in the number of cells or their physiological
state results in a concomitant change in the amount of
dye incorporated by the cells in the culture. This
indicates the degree of cytotoxicity caused by the test
material.