Live/dead assay Bacteria

You should be able to get good results with any of the two methods but it mostly depends on the actual kit you are using. Generally, checking the fluorescence is preferred as it is considered a more sensitive method and thus more credible.

It likely depends on your application. For example trypan blue is excellent for determining percentages of dead cells from live just by microscopy. You can determine live/dead in flow cytometry pretty easily with propidium iodide or other stain. Cell glo is pretty popular for assessing in plate based assays. Lots of options. Depends on whether you are studying apoptotic agents. How much kinetics or quantitation you need. Assessing live dead at end of assay is pretty easy. At beginning of assay much harder.

You should be able to get good results with any of the two methods but it mostly depends on the actual kit you are using. Generally, checking the fluorescence is preferred as it is considered a more sensitive method and thus more credible.