Biotium introduces ViaPlex 2-colour cell barcoding kit for 15-sample flow cytometry multiplexing
Biotium has introduced the ViaPlex™ 2-Color Cell Barcoding Kit, a reagent system designed to enable simultaneous multiplex analysis of up to 15 distinct cell populations within a single flow cytometry tube. The kit is aimed at researchers in drug discovery, immunology, and high-throughput cellular screening who require greater sample throughput without a proportional increase in reagent consumption or instrument time.
How the barcoding system works
The kit employs two cell-permeant reactive fluorescent dyes – ViaPlex 405 Barcoding Dye, optimised for the 405 nm laser and Pacific Blue® filter set, and ViaPlex 488 Barcoding Dye, for the 488 nm laser and FITC filter. Applied at varying concentrations across up to 15 cell populations, the two dyes generate a combinatorial barcoding matrix. Once labelled, the individual populations are pooled into a single tube for downstream antibody staining, and are subsequently resolved during flow cytometric analysis using a dot plot displaying signal intensity across the two channels. An optional 16th sample barcode is achievable with stain-specific compensation.
Workflow compatibility and fixation flexibility
A notable feature of the ViaPlex system is that barcoding does not require fixation or permeabilisation prior to labelling, permitting use on live cells – a consideration for assay types that depend on cell viability or intact membrane function. Barcoding can be performed either before or after experimental treatment, providing flexibility across a range of study designs. Should downstream intracellular detection be required, the covalent dye labelling remains stable following subsequent fixation and permeabilisation steps. The barcode staining protocol is compatible with both surface and intracellular antibody staining workflows, and the covalent nature of the dye-cell interaction provides stable population separation throughout the staining and acquisition process.
“The ViaPlex Cell Barcoding Kit is an exciting new product that should be very useful for researchers doing drug screening or other cellular screening by flow,” said Dr Alexis Madrid, Assistant Director of Biotium’s Bioscience department.
Throughput and consistency benefits
By consolidating multiple samples into a single tube for antibody staining and acquisition, the kit reduces the total number of flow cytometry runs required per experiment. This approach improves sample-to-sample consistency by minimising inter-sample technical variation arising from sequential staining procedures. Laboratories running large screening panels or time-course experiments stand to benefit from reduced reagent volumes and shorter overall run times.
Broader flow cytometry portfolio
The ViaPlex kit extends Biotium’s existing range of flow cytometry reagents, which includes validated Biotium Choice Antibodies conjugated to CF® Dyes targeting common immune markers, and the Live-or-Dye™ Fixable Viability Stain series, available across 18 fluorescent colours for dead cell exclusion.
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