blu-lazer-230x195

Flow cytometry analysis with a blue laser

Blue light-excitable fluorophores play a critical role in standard multiparametric flow cytometry. With the growing availability of flow cytometers equipped with UV, violet, green, yellow, red, and blue lasers, the blue laser continues to be an essential part of nearly every flow cytometry instrument, and additionally blue laser-excitable fluorophores are commonly used because of compatibility with Red Fluorescent Protein for live-cell analysis. The expansive Alexa Fluor dye, eFluor dye, and NovaFluor dye portfolios support multi-color immunophenotyping by flow cytometry and include a variety of dyes compatible with the 488 nm spectral line of the blue laser.

Properties of fluorescent dyes for the blue laser

The table below lists the properties of the most commonly used fluorophores for the blue laser.

FluorophoreFluorophore typeEx/Em (nm)Relative intensity* (1=lowest, 5=highest)Suggested bandpass filter (nm)Uses
NovaFluor Blue 510Phiton technology496/5112506/18Dye with a unique spectra, compatible with other blue laser excitable dyes having a narrow emission spectrum. Ideal for spectral flow cytometry
Alexa Fluor 488Organic dye490/5193530/30A brighter alternative to FITC that has greater photostability, pH-independent fluorescence from pH 4 to 10, and almost the identical fluorescence spectra
Fluorescein (FITC)Organic dye490/5253530/30Widely used fluorophore that is prone to photobleaching and exhibits pH-sensitive fluorescence between pH 5–8
NovaFluor Blue 530Phiton technology509/5301525/18A good alternative for other dyes that are excited by the 488 nm blue laser, such as FITC and Alexa Fluor 488 dye, with a similar excitation spectrum and more narrow emission spectrum; ideal for spectral flow cytometry
NovaFluor Blue 555Phiton technology496/5551542/18Excitation and emission profile similar to that of Alexa Fluor 532 dye, but brighter; ideal for spectral flow cytometry
NovaFluor Blue 585Phiton technology494/5851580/18Unique emission spectrum, which fits in between NovaFluor Blue 555 and NovaFluor Blue 610, allowing the detection of an additional marker in a complex multi-color panel; ideal for spectral flow cytometry
NovaFluor Blue 610-30SPhiton technology509/6141610/20Can be used to replace some PE-tandem dyes with much less cross-excitation and lower spectral spillover, allowing detection of an additional marker labeled with NovaFluor Yellow 610 dye; NovaFluor Blue 610-30S is dimmer than NovaFluor 610-70S
NovaFluor Blue 610-70SPhiton technology509/6142610/20Can be used to replace some PE-tandem dyes with much less cross-excitation and lower spectral spillover, allowing detection of an additional marker labeled with NovaFluor Yellow 610 dye; NovaFluor Blue 610-70S is brighter than NovaFluor Blue 610-30S
NovaFluor Blue 660-40SPhiton technology509/6141660/20Can be used to replace PE-tandem dyes with much less cross-excitation and lower spectral spillover, allowing detection of an additional marker labeled with NovaFluor Yellow 660 dye; NovaFluor Blue 660-40S is dimmer than NovaFluor 660-120S
NovaFluor Blue 660-120SPhiton technology509/6143660/20Can be used to replace PE-tandem dyes with much less cross-excitation and lower spectral spillover, allowing detection of an additional marker labeled with NovaFluor Yellow 660 dye; NovaFluor Blue 660-120S is brighter than NovaFluor 660-40S
PerCPProtein482/6783695/40Peridinin chlorophyll protein complex (PerCP) is a protein with a large Stokes shift that is ideal for multiplex fluorescence detection
PerCP-Cyanine 5.5Tandem482/6953695/40Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer from PerCP molecule to Cyanine 5.5 dye
NovaFluor Blue 690Phiton technology494/6881695/40Can be used to replace tandem dyes, such as PerCP-Cyanine5.5, with much less cross-excitation and lower spectral spillover. Ideal for spectral cytometry.
PerCP-eFluor 710Tandem482/7104710/50Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer from PerCP molecule to eFluor 710 dye; 2-3 fold brighter than PerCP-Cyanine 5.5 tandem
R-Phycoerythrin (R-PE, PE)Protein496, 565/5755575/26Widely used fluorophore with a high quantum yield that is ideal for detection of low-density antigens
PE-Texas RedTandem496, 565/6153590/40Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer from PE molecule to Texas Red dye
PE-Alexa Fluor 610Tandem496, 565/6283590/40Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer from PE molecule to Alexa Fluor 610 dye
PE-eFluor 610Tandem496, 565/6073610/20Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer from PE molecule to eFluor 610; alternative to PE-Texas Red dye
PE-Cyanine 5 (TRI-COLOR)Tandem496, 565/6673670/14Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer from PE molecule to Cyanine 5 dye
PE-Cyanine 5.5Tandem496, 565/6944695/40Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer Cyanine 5.5 dye
PE-Alexa Fluor 700Tandem496, 565/7233695/40Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer from PE molecule to Alexa Fluor 700 dye
NovaFluor Blue 725Phiton technology492/7253710/50NovaFluor Blue 725 dye should generally be paired with moderately to highly expressed antigens in multicolor panels
NovaFluor Blue 760Phiton technology490/7643780/60NovaFluor Blue 760 dye should generally be paired with moderately to highly expressed antigens in multicolor panels
PE-Cyanine 7Tandem496, 565/7674780/60Tandem dye, resonance energy transfer from PE molecule to Cyanine 7 dye
* The relative intensity of any fluorophore is dependent upon cell type being studied, reagent used, instrument, and instrument configuration. The relative intensities provided are to be used as a guideline; observed intensities may vary.

Support

Custom Services
Contact our eBioscience custom services group for antibody conjugation, antibody cocktails, immunoassay development, bulk reagents, and testing services.

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