LIVE/DEAD™ Fixable dead cell stains are used to determine the viability of cells prior to the fixation and permeabilization required for intracellular antibody staining or prior to elimination of biohazardous materials using formaldehyde fixation. The stains in the sampler kit have been optimized and validated for use in flow cytometry.

• Stable—dyes are freeze-dried in separate vials to maintain stability
• Robust—staining pattern is the same before and after fixation
• Bright signal—allows for easy distinction between live/dead cells in single channel

View a selection guide for all fixable viability dyes for flow cytometry.

Stable
Unlike products that are sold in solution, the LIVE/DEAD™ Fixable dead cell stains in this sampler kit have been conveniently packaged in eight 40-test vials to help ensure the stability and performance of the dye over time. Amine-reactive dyes in solution will lose their effectiveness over a short period of time, therefore it is recommended to use the vial completely once rehydrated or aliquot the solution and store at -80°C, avoiding freeze thaw cycles.

Robust
Dead cell discriminator stains can lose sensitivity after treatment with formaldehyde or ethanol-based fixatives required for intracellular phosphorylation studies. The LIVE/DEAD™ Fixable dead cell stains are amine-reactive dyes that bind covalently to intracellular and extracellular amines, allowing the staining pattern to be preserved following formaldehyde fixation.

Optimal brightness
The LIVE/DEAD™ Fixable dead cell stains were selected based on their fluorescent properties to provide a bright signal when excited with the optimal lasers. Since live and dead cells can be discriminated using a single dye and a single channel of a flow cytometer, these dead cell stains are an ideal choice for multi-color experiments.

How it works
In cells with compromised membranes, the dead cell stain reacts with free amines both in the cell interior and on the cell surface, yielding intense fluorescent staining. In viable cells, the dye's reactivity is restricted to the cell-surface amines, resulting in less intense fluorescence. The difference in intensity is typically greater than 50-fold between live and dead cells allowing for easy discrimination.

Colors available
LIVE/DEAD™ Fixable dead cell stains are available in a wide variety of colors to meet your multi-color panel needs. The sampler kit provides one vial (40 assays) of each of the eight dead cell stains available.

Find the LIVE/DEAD™ Fixable Dead Cell Stain that fits your needs:

• For UV lasers: blue
• For violet lasers: aqua, violet, or yellow
• For blue lasers: green or red
• For red lasers: far-red or near-IR