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Thermo Scientific™ Pierce™ 16% Formaldehyde (w/v), Methanol-free
Description
Thermo Scientific™ Pierce Formaldehyde Ampules are vials of high-quality, methanol-free formaldehyde for use as a general immunohistochemistry fixative and reversible amine-crosslinking agent for protein and nucleic acid tissue samples.
Highlights:
Pure and stable - prepared directly from pure granular paraformaldehyde and sealed in ampules under an inert atmosphere, ensuring that it is methanol-free and resistant to oxidation
Versatile - use to cross-link molecules in protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interaction discovery, bioimaging and flow cytometry
Aliquot packaging - choose 1mL or 10mL ampules suitable for low- and high-volume applications ranging from culture-targeted cell fixing to in-cell protein cross-linking
Convenient starting concentration - 16% (w/v) formaldehyde solution in ultrapure water simplifies dilution to the required working concentration
Specifications
Specifications
| Chemical Name or Material | Formaldehyde |
| Quantity | 10 x 10 mL |
| Physical Form | Liquid |
| Product Line | Pierce |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We guarantee the functionality of Pierce 16% Formaldehyde (w/v), Methanol-free for one year from date of shipment, if stored correctly. See Limited Warranties for consumables under the General Terms and Conditions of Sale.
Aldehyde-based fixatives (e.g., formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde) crosslink various cellular components, which helps retain proteins and cell morphology, but some antigens can be masked by the crosslinking, requiring antigen retrieval methods to unmask the antigen binding sites. Also, aldehyde-based fixation requires permeabilization to allow entry of antibodies. Organic solvents such as methanol and acetone condense proteins and permeabilize the cells, but cell morphology can be compromised. Surface antigens can be labeled without fixation.
The terms formalin and formaldehyde are often used interchangeably, although the chemical composition of each fixative is different. Formalin is made with formaldehyde but the percentage denotes a different formaldehyde concentration than formaldehyde solutions. For example, 10% neutral-buffered formalin (NBF or simply formalin) is really a 4% formaldehyde solution; the basis for this difference is that historically, formalin was prepared with commercial-grade stock formaldehyde, which is 37 to 40% formaldehyde, by diluting it 1:10 in phosphate buffer.
Most commercial formaldehyde is prepared with paraformaldehyde (polymeric formaldehyde) dissolved in distilled/deionized water, with methanol added to stabilize the aqueous formaldehyde. Solution stabilization is important to prevent oxidation to formic acid and the eventual repolymerization to paraformaldehyde, and therefore commercial formaldehyde may contain up to 10% methanol. To avoid using methanol-contaminated formaldehyde for fixation, many protocols recommend making fresh formaldehyde from paraformaldehyde immediately before sample fixation. This preparation is not necessary if using Cat. Nos. 28906 and 28908.
We recommend storing in the original container protected from direct sunlight in a dry, cool and well-ventilated area.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.