Bio-Rad Introduces a Simple Way to Assess the Viability of Cells for Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting that is Compatible with Fixation

Date: 
2014-11-20

Hercules, CA — November 20, 2014 — Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE BIO and BIOb) today announced the launch of VivaFix™ Cell Viability Assays, a family of reagents that provide a simple way to identify dead cells in a sample. When stained with VivaFix Dyes, dead cells show at least a 100-fold increase in fluorescence intensity over live cells with no significant loss of fluorescence upon fixation, leading to more reliable and consistent cell viability assessment. 

Excluding dead cells is critical to the success of cell sorting and flow cytometry experiments, as dead cells can generate a nonspecific fluorescent signal and lead to inaccurate and unreliable sorting or interpretation of data. VivaFix Dyes can be used to assess the viability of cells because they permeate the compromised plasma membrane of dying cells, interacting with intracellular proteins, and then becoming trapped within the cell. As a result, dying cells acquire a brighter fluorescence than live cells, allowing the live and dead cell populations to be easily distinguished. Unlike traditional dyes, VivaFix Dyes are unaffected by fixation procedures, making them the optimal choice when working with fixed biohazardous samples.

VivaFix allows efficient identification of live and dead cells in fixed and unfixed samples
VivaFix Assays allow efficient identification of live and dead cells in fixed and unfixed samples.

Bio-Rad’s VivaFix Cell Viability Assays are available in eight colors from purple to red, making it easy to integrate them into any multicolor experiment.

Visit www.bio-rad.com/VivaFixpr to learn more about the VivaFix Cell Viability Assays.

About the Cell Biology Portfolio
The cell biology product portfolio from Bio-Rad Laboratories comprises solutions for researchers conducting experiments that involve cell culture, cellular imaging, and cell analysis. Bio-Rad is a well-established provider of transfection tools, particularly through its line of Gene Pulser® Electroporation Systems. The company has expanded its cell biology offerings to include the S3e™ Cell Sorter, the ZOE™ Fluorescent Cell Imager, and the TC20™ Automated Cell Counter. These instruments are supported by a suite of flow cytometry and fluorescent cell imaging reagents, including ReadiLink Antibody Labeling Kits. In addition, more than 10,500 antibodies and associated kits and accessories are available for various cell biology applications from AbD Serotec, a Bio-Rad company. Visit www.bio-rad.com/lifescience for more information.

About Bio-Rad
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of innovative products and solutions for the life science research and clinical diagnostic markets. The company is renowned for its commitment to quality and customer service among university and research institutions, hospitals, public health and commercial laboratories, as well as the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and food safety industries. Founded in 1952, Bio-Rad is based in Hercules, California, and serves more than 100,000 research and healthcare industry customers through its global network of operations. The company employs more than 7,800 people worldwide and had revenues exceeding $2.1 billion in 2013. For more information, visit our website at www.bio-rad.com.

This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, “believe,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “estimate,” “continue,” or similar expressions or the negative of those terms or expressions. Such statements involve risks and
uncertainties, which could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements. For further information regarding the Company's risks and uncertainties, please refer to the “Risk Factors” in the Company’s public reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect an analysis only and speak only as of the date hereof. Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

 

For more information contact:
Steve Kulisch
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
510-741-5638
Steve_Kulisch@bio-rad.com

Ken Li
Chempetitive Group
312-997-2436 x112
kli@chempetitive.com