Final answer:
To ensure accuracy and reliability when estimating cell concentration with a hemocytometer, the same number of squares should be counted on both sides of the chamber.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, when using a hemocytometer to count cells, such as red blood cells or bacteria, it is important to count cells in the same number of squares on both sides of the chamber to ensure accuracy and reliability of the cell concentration estimation. A hemocytometer is a counting-chamber device that is etched with a grid of uniform squares to facilitate precise counting of cells in a sample. When counting cells, it's not just the number of cells within a square that matters, but the volume of liquid above each square. Because this volume is consistent for all squares in a Petroff-Hausser chamber, counting cells in multiple squares improves the accuracy of results by allowing the calculation of an average concentration. Typically, a tester would count several squares and calculate the mean cell count per square, then use this to estimate the total number of cells in the sample. This method of manual cell counting is convenient, quick, and cost-effective, though not suited for very dilute cultures. Furthermore, counting the same number of squares on each side of the chamber ensures that the calculated cell concentration is not biased by any uneven distribution of cells across the chamber.