AI-Powered Analysis for Migration & Invasion Assays

Invasion and Migration Assay Analysis

Invasion and migration assays are essential for studying cancer metastasis, immune response, and cellular motility. Yet, traditional approaches—like optical density (OD) readings or manual counting—often lead to inconsistent and labor-intensive workflows. OD-based methods are sensitive to staining variability, and manual counting is subjective and time-consuming.

SnapCyte™ offers a better approach. Our AI-powered platform analyzes stained images of migrated or invaded cells, providing stained-area-based quantification that improves both reproducibility and accuracy—no manual counting required.

🧠 New to these assays? Read our complete breakdown of Transwell migration and invasion assays to better understand the workflow and key differences.

SnapCyte platform analyzing transwell migration assay image
invasion assay stained membrane analyzed with AI

How it works

How SnapCyte™ Invasion Assay Work

After staining migrated or invaded cells on the transwell membrane, capture multiple 10X images per well using your microscope or smartphone adapter. Upload the images to SnapCyte™, and the AI quantifies the percent area covered by stained cells, offering a fast and objective readout for both migration and invasion assays.

SnapCyte™ removes the need for manual counting, ensuring consistency even when cell boundaries are unclear or stain intensity varies. 

📹 Scroll down to see a short video on how to image and analyze your migration and invasion assays with SnapCyte™.

Why Use SnapCyte™ for Migration and Invasion Assays?

  • AI-Powered Quantification
    Automatically measures stained area—no counting or threshold tuning required.

  • Time-Saving Workflow
    Analyze each image in under 30 seconds, eliminating tedious manual steps.

  • Reproducible Results Across Experiments
    Consistent analysis logic minimizes user variability and improves data quality.

  • Easy Data Management
    SnapCyte™ stores your images, overlays, and metrics for seamless tracking and reporting.

  • Supports Both Assay Types
    Works with both migration (uncoated inserts) and invasion (matrix-coated inserts).

Get Your Free Academic License

SnapCyte™ is free for academic use. Whether you’re performing a migration or invasion assay, you can now automate your analysis and eliminate manual error.

Case studies

SnapCyte™ integration has significantly enhanced the precision and efficiency of our invasion assays, providing a solid answer compared to our previous data analysis challenge.

— Eliana Beraldi
Senior Research Assistant, Vancouver Prostate Centre
SnapCyte™ analysis of transwell membrane with stained cells

Frequently asked questions

Most Frequent Questions and Answers

SnapCyte™ enhances accuracy by providing an stained-area based assessment of cell invasion, reducing the subjectivity and variability associated with manual counting.

Yes, SnapCyte™ is compatible with a variety of transwell inserts, making it adaptable to different experimental setups.

You can use 4X or 10X magnifications to acquire images. However, SnapCyte™ is optimized for 10X magnification, which balances detail and field of view for accurate analysis.

SnapCyte™ processes each image in under 30 seconds, providing rapid results without compromising accuracy. Taking pictures of a 24-well plate would take around 15-20 minutes. 

SnapCyte™ provides detailed quantitative data, including the percentage area of migratory (stained) cells and graphical representations of your results with various statistical analysis, ready for publication or further analysis.