PMA Real-Time PCR Bacterial Viability Kit – E. coli O157:H7 (Z3276)

PMA is stable after dilution to 0.2 mM in water as long as it is protected from light and can be stored in the same way as the 20 mM stock solution.

Note: Do not remove the cover or introduce liquids to the interior of the PMA-Lite.

1. Thoroughly wipe all exposed PMA-Lite surfaces and the inner rims of the tube holes with 10% bleach in water (household bleach diluted at a ratio of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
2. Let the bleach sit on the unit for 10 minutes.
3. Thoroughly wipe the surfaces with dH2O.
4. Wipe the surfaces with 70% ethanol and allow to air dry.

Viability PCR originally used EMA (ethidium monoazide) to inactivate dead cell DNA. Biotium developed PMA (propidium monoazide) in collaboration with investigators at Montana State University (Nocker et al. 2006). PMA is more selective for dead cells than EMA, and became widely used for selective detection of viable microbes and viruses. PMAxx™ is Biotium’s newest viability PCR dye, designed to be more effective than PMA at eliminating PCR amplification of dead cell DNA. Therefore it provides the best discrimination between live and dead bacteria.

Learn more about PMA and PMAxx™ for viability PCR.