A method for rapidly monitoring a stress response of a cell suspended in a medium to a stressor and determining the magnitude of the stress response, the method comprising: a) under conditions suitable for monitoring the voltage and/or the current, applying an electric field to a test sample comprising the cell suspended in the medium or to a test sample comprising the cell on a suspended micro culture bead; b) monitoring the voltage and/or the current; c) allowing a stressor to impact the test sample, wherein the stressor is chosen from a stressor applied prior to, a stressor applied substantially simultaneously with, and a stressor applied subsequent to the applying of the electric field; d) monitoring an initial impedance response of the test sample, wherein the initial impedance response of the test sample is an impedance change of the test sample during the period of transition from a first measurement of impedance of the test sample at about the time of applying the electric field up to and including a subsequently measured impedance of the test sample that is indicative of the stress response or non-growth, thereby monitoring the stress response of said cell to the stressor; and e) determining the level of the initial impedance response of the test sample, wherein the level of the initial impedance response of the test sample is an indication of the magnitude of the stress response of the cell, thereby determining the magnitude of the stress response of the cell to the stressor, the method further comprising: mathematically comparing the level of the initial impedance response of the test sample determined in step (e) with: (i) a first standard value that represents the impedance response of a first reference sample comprising the medium with or without the stressor, and wherein the first reference sample is devoid of cells; and/or (ii) a second standard value that represents the initial impedance response of a second reference sample comprising a cell and the medium, wherein the cell in the reference sample is of the same type and concentration as the cell in the test sample, and wherein the reference sample is devoid of the stressor; and determining a value for a First Impedance Response Profile of the test sample, the value for the First Impedance Response Profile based on the mathematical comparison of the level of the initial impedance response of the test sample determined in step (e) with the first standard value and/or the second standard value, wherein the initial impedance response is determined by monitoring within a period of about 45 minutes from the first measurement of impedance. a) under conditions suitable for monitoring the voltage and/or the current, applying an electric field to a test sample comprising the cell suspended in the medium or to a test sample comprising the cell on a suspended micro culture bead; b) monitoring the voltage and/or the current; c) allowing a stressor to impact the test sample, wherein the stressor is chosen from a stressor applied prior to, a stressor applied substantially simultaneously with, and a stressor applied subsequent to the applying of the electric field; d) monitoring an initial impedance response of the test sample, wherein the initial impedance response of the test sample is an impedance change of the test sample during the period of transition from a first measurement of impedance of the test sample at about the time of applying the electric field up to and including a subsequently measured impedance of the test sample that is indicative of the stress response or non-growth, thereby monitoring the stress response of said cell to the stressor; and e) determining the level of the initial impedance response of the test sample, wherein the level of the initial impedance response of the test sample is an indication of the magnitude of the stress response of the cell, thereby determining the magnitude of the stress response of the cell to the stressor, (i) a first standard value that represents the impedance response of a first reference sample comprising the medium with or without the stressor, and wherein the first reference sample is devoid of cells; and/or (ii) a second standard value that represents the initial impedance response of a second reference sample comprising a cell and the medium, wherein the cell in the reference sample is of the same type and concentration as the cell in the test sample, and wherein the reference sample is devoid of the stressor; and determining a value for a First Impedance Response Profile of the test sample, the value for the First Impedance Response Profile based on the mathematical comparison of the level of the initial impedance response of the test sample determined in step (e) with the first standard value and/or the second standard value,