2 ReadyProbes dropper bottles next to product box.

The easiest way to image your cells

Molecular Probes ReadyProbes reagents are ready-to-use imaging solutions designed to allow you to stain cells with:

  • No calculations
  • No dilutions
  • No pipetting

Reach for the convenient dropper bottle, add 2 drops per milliliter of your cell suspension, and you're ready to image. ReadyProbes reagents address your most common imaging needs, including nuclear and cytoskeletal staining, and analyses for cell viability and apoptosis. In addition, we’ve formulated some of our most popular secondary antibodies for use straight from the dropper bottle. We’ve also developed ReadyProbes imaging accessories to help you get great results from your staining protocol.


ReadyProbes Cell Stains

With each ReadyProbes reagent, you can follow the icon-based protocol to obtain quick and easy results for a common imaging application. ReadyProbes cell stains can remain on the bench within arm’s reach of your microscope. Add 2 drops per milliliter of solution, and you're ready for the next step in your experiment.

Microscopic view of a cell showing actin stained red and the nucleus stained blue

HeLa cells labeled with NucBlue Live ReadyProbes Reagent and ActinRed 555 ReadyProbes Reagent

 
NucBlue Live ReadyProbes Reagent
NucRed Live 647 ReadyProbes Reagent
NucBlue Fixed Cell ReadyProbes Reagent
Readout
The easiest fluorescent staining method for nucleic acids; no calculations, no dilutions, no pipetting
Target
High-efficiency staining of both RNA and DNA
Common filter set
DAPI
Cy5
DAPI
Ex/Em (nm)
358/461
638/686
360/460
Signal-to-noise ratio
Photostability
Live cells
Yes
Yes
No
Fixed cells
Yes
Yes
Yes
Fixable
Yes
Yes
NA
Format
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
Cat. No.
R37605
R37106
R37606

See more nuclear staining reagents

 
ActinGreen 488 ReadyProbes Reagent
ActinRed 555 ReadyProbes Reagent
Readout
The easiest fluorescent staining method for actin; no calculations, no dilutions, no pipetting
Target
High-affinity staining of F-actin
Common filter set
FITC
TRITC
Ex/Em (nm)
495/518
555/565
Signal-to-noise ratio
Photostability
Live cells
No
No
Fixed cells
Yes
Yes
Fixable
NA
NA
Platforms
Imaging
Imaging
Format
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
Cat. No.
R37110
R37112

See more actin staining reagents

 
NucGreen Dead 488 ReadyProbes Reagent
NucRed Dead 647 ReadyProbes Reagent
ReadyProbes Cell Viability Imaging Kit (Blue/Green)
ReadyProbes Cell Viability Imaging Kit (Blue/Red)
Readout
The easiest fluorescent staining method for viability; no calculations, no dilutions, no pipetting
Target
Single-color assays detect dead cells
Two-color assays detect dead cells and total cells
Dead cells stain green
Dead cells stain red
Dead cells stain green, live cells appear blue
Dead cells stain red, total cells appear blue
Fluorescent label
DNA stain
DNA stain
DNA stain
Propidium iodide
Hoechst 33342
Hoechst 33342
Standard filter set
FITC
Cy®5
FITC
TRITC/RFP
DAPI
DAPI
Ex/Em (nm)
504/523
642/661
504/523
535/617
360/460
360/460
Platforms
Imaging
Imaging
Imaging
Imaging
Format
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
Cat. No.
R37109
R37113
R37609
R37610

See more cell viability stains

 
CellEvent Caspase-3/7 Green ReadyProbes Reagent
Readout
The easiest fluorescent staining method for apoptosis; no calculations, no dilutions, no pipetting
Target
Fluorescence intensity increases with caspase 3/7 activity
Common filter set
FITC
Ex/Em (nm)
502/530
Live cells
Yes
Fixed cells
No
Fixable
Yes
Platforms
Imaging
Format
1 x dropper bottle
Cat. No.
R37111

See more apoptosis stains

 
NucBlue Live ReadyProbes Reagent
NucRed Live 647 ReadyProbes Reagent
NucBlue Fixed Cell ReadyProbes Reagent
Readout
The easiest fluorescent staining method for nucleic acids; no calculations, no dilutions, no pipetting
Target
High-efficiency staining of both RNA and DNA
Common filter set
DAPI
Cy5
DAPI
Ex/Em (nm)
358/461
638/686
360/460
Signal-to-noise ratio
Photostability
Live cells
Yes
Yes
No
Fixed cells
Yes
Yes
Yes
Fixable
Yes
Yes
NA
Format
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
Cat. No.
R37605
R37106
R37606

See more nuclear staining reagents

 
ActinGreen 488 ReadyProbes Reagent
ActinRed 555 ReadyProbes Reagent
Readout
The easiest fluorescent staining method for actin; no calculations, no dilutions, no pipetting
Target
High-affinity staining of F-actin
Common filter set
FITC
TRITC
Ex/Em (nm)
495/518
555/565
Signal-to-noise ratio
Photostability
Live cells
No
No
Fixed cells
Yes
Yes
Fixable
NA
NA
Platforms
Imaging
Imaging
Format
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
Cat. No.
R37110
R37112

See more actin staining reagents

 
NucGreen Dead 488 ReadyProbes Reagent
NucRed Dead 647 ReadyProbes Reagent
ReadyProbes Cell Viability Imaging Kit (Blue/Green)
ReadyProbes Cell Viability Imaging Kit (Blue/Red)
Readout
The easiest fluorescent staining method for viability; no calculations, no dilutions, no pipetting
Target
Single-color assays detect dead cells
Two-color assays detect dead cells and total cells
Dead cells stain green
Dead cells stain red
Dead cells stain green, live cells appear blue
Dead cells stain red, total cells appear blue
Fluorescent label
DNA stain
DNA stain
DNA stain
Propidium iodide
Hoechst 33342
Hoechst 33342
Standard filter set
FITC
Cy®5
FITC
TRITC/RFP
DAPI
DAPI
Ex/Em (nm)
504/523
642/661
504/523
535/617
360/460
360/460
Platforms
Imaging
Imaging
Imaging
Imaging
Format
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
6 x dropper bottles
Cat. No.
R37109
R37113
R37609
R37610

See more cell viability stains

 
CellEvent Caspase-3/7 Green ReadyProbes Reagent
Readout
The easiest fluorescent staining method for apoptosis; no calculations, no dilutions, no pipetting
Target
Fluorescence intensity increases with caspase 3/7 activity
Common filter set
FITC
Ex/Em (nm)
502/530
Live cells
Yes
Fixed cells
No
Fixable
Yes
Platforms
Imaging
Format
1 x dropper bottle
Cat. No.
R37111

See more apoptosis stains


ReadyProbes Secondary Antibodies

ReadyProbes secondary antibodies are conjugated with bright and photostable Alexa Fluor 488 and Alexa Fluor 594 dyes to offer convenient and robust labeling. These Alexa Fluor secondary antibodies recognize IgG heavy chains and all classes of immunoglobulin light chains from either mouse or rabbit. Like other ReadyProbes reagents, these secondary antibodies are provided in a convenient dropper bottle format. No pipetting or dilutions are required. Just add 2 drops per milliliter of buffer to stain your cells, and follow the icon-based protocol.

Microscopic view showing a group of fluorescently stained cells, demonstrating the multiplex capabilities of a ReadyProbes secondary antibody with other secondary antibodies and cell stains.
CAKI cell peroxisomes labeled using a rabbit anti-PMP70 antibody, followed by detection with Alexa Fluor 488 Goat Anti–Rabbit IgG Antibody ReadyProbes Reagent.
 
Alexa Fluor 488
Alexa Fluor 594
Common filter
FITC
Texas Red
Ex/Em (nm)
495/518
590/617
Donkey anti-mouse IgG antibody conjugate
Goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody conjugate
Donkey anti-rabbit IgG antibody conjugate
Goat anti-mouse IgG antibody conjugate

See moresecondary antibodies


ReadyProbes sample preparation accessories

Imaging accessories makes it easier to handle cell or tissue samples and to prepare for staining and imaging workflow.

Microscopic view of a few fluorescently stained cells that were treated with the ReadyProbes fixation/permeabilization reagent and then labeled with 3 different cell stains.
HeLa cells fixed and permeabilized using the Image-iT Fixation/Permeabilization Kit.

Image-iT fixation and permeabilization Kits

Image-iT fixative and permeabilization solutions and kits are ready-to-go solutions for fluorescence imaging. These reagents are manufactured from high quality ingredients, which helps minimize autofluorescence artifacts. These reagents are also free from impurities, such as methanol, which can interfere with cell/tissue morphology. No more need to handle toxic powders or hard-to-mix reagents, these reagents are designed for all fluorophores, including as Alexa Fluor dyes, FITC, TRITC, GFP and mCherry.

General blockers

General blockers are used in workflows such as, immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), or in-situ hybridization (ISH) to help reduce off-target binding of antibodies and other probes/indicators. ReadyProbes blockers are generated with high quality ingredients to help minimize autofluorescence artifacts caused by substandard ingredients. Use these reagents after fixative step but before primary or secondary antibody incubations.

Specific blockers

In fluorescence imaging, reagent and specimen interactions can cause background fluorescence artifacts and non-specific signals. To address these issues, we’ve developed specialized blockers to help minimize these artifacts, so the specific signal can be observed.

Staining/background issueProbable causeSolutionCat. No.
Tissues have background, non-specific fluorescence before adding any fluorophore conjugated reagent to the cells/tissue.Many tissue types, and some cells have endogenous autofluorescenceReadyProbes Tissue Autofluorescence Quenching KitR37630
Nonspecific signal when adding fluorophore conjugated secondary antibody (without primary antibody)Static charge on fluorophore-conjugated secondary antibody is causing non-target stainingImage-iT FX Signal Enhancer ReadyProbes ReagentR37107
Non-specific signal when mouse-originating antibodies are used on mouse tissueMouse-originating antibodies target non-specific targets in mouse tissueReadyProbes Mouse-on-Mouse IgG Blocking Solution (30X)R37621
Adding reaction buffer, without HRP/AP–conjugated antibody generates non-specific signalMany tissue/cells have endogenous peroxidase and/or phosphatase activityReadyProbes Endogenous HRP and AP Blocking Solution (1X)R37629
Adding fluorophore conjugated avidin and/or biotin generates non-specific signalMany tissue/cells have endogenous avidin and/or biotin, or similar molecules.ReadyProbes Avidin/Biotin Blocking Solution (1X)R37627
Adding fluorophore conjugated streptavidin and/or biotin generates non-specific signalMany tissue/cells have endogenous avidin and/or biotin, or similar molecules.ReadyProbes Streptavidin/Biotin Blocking Solution (1X)R37628

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.