Optimization of a Nile Red method for rapid lipid determination in autotrophic, marine microalgae is species dependent

It was found that optimization of the Nile Red assay was strongly species dependent. Consequently, optimization has to be done for each species before using the assay. For Nannochloropsis, a good correlation was found between total and neutral lipid content obtained by the Nile Red assay and by gravimetric methods.