Routine assessment of viability in split-thickness skin

Effective quality control of allograft skin that is cryopreserved for trans plantation requires a simple, reproducible technique for the assessment of cell viability. Tetrazolium reduction assays and an oxygen consumption tech nique have been the two methods of choice to determine the metabolic functi on of allograft skin after it has been thawed. In this study, we investigat ed the use of a novel tetrazolium salt, WST-1 (4-[3-(4-iodophenyl)-2-(4-nit rophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate), that is cleaved to a c ater-soluble formazan product. Porcine split-thickness skin in minimal esse ntial medium without cryoprotectant was subjected to a graded freezing prot ocol to generate progressive amounts of cryoinjury Recovery as determined w ith WST-1 was compared with measurements made with the use of the oxygen co nsumption technique. The similarity of the resulting recovery curves indica tes that WST-1 is a simple, effective, and convenient technique for the ass essment of metabolic function in porcine split-thickness skin. The WST-1 as say is applicable for the routine assessment of tissue viability in cryopre served allograft skin.