Dead cell stains
Dead cell stains are membrane-impermeant dyes that are excluded by viable cells, but stain necrotic or late apoptotic cells with damaged plasma membranes. Many of our dead cell stains are fluorogenic nucleic acid dyes that only fluoresce when bound to DNA or RNA inside dead cells, eliminating the need to wash before detection. See our full selection of nuclear stains on our Cellular Stains Technology Page.
Most DNA binding dead-cell stains are not fixable, meaning that the dyes will diffuse from stained cells to unstained cells after fixation, resulting in lower signal and higher background. Our Live-or-Dye™ Fixable Viability Stains are membrane-impermeant reactive dyes that covalently label dead cells. While these stains require washing, the staining can withstand fixation and permeabilization for subsequent IF staining. They also are useful for excluding dead cells from flow cytometry analysis of cell surface staining. See our complete selection of Apoptosis & Viability Stains.
Live-or-Dye NucFix™ Red Staining Kit
32010, - 32010-TView allHide
A red fluorescent dye to covalently label dead cells, allowing cells with permeable plasma membranes to be detected in flow cytometry and microscopy.
Live-or-Dye™ Fixable Viability Staining Kits
32022, 32022-T, 32021, 32021-T, 32016, 32017, 32018-T, 32002-T, 32014-T, 32003-T, 32009-T, 32004-T, 32012-T, 32015-T, 32005-T, 32007-T, 32006-T, 32013-T, 32008-T, 32011-T, 32018, 32002, 32014, 32003, 32009, 32004, 32012, 32005, 32006, 32015, 32007, 32013, 32008, - 32011View allHide
Kits to covalently label dead cells, allowing cells with permeable plasma membranes to be excluded from analysis in flow cytometry. A wide variety of dye options for standard flow, spectral flow, and fluorescence microscopy.
NucSpot® 470 Nuclear Stain
40083-T, - 40083View allHide
Cell membrane-impermeant, nuclear-specific green counterstain. Suitable for fixed cells or staining dead cells in live cultures.
NucSpot® Nuclear Stains
41040, 41040-T, 41033, 41033-T, 41036, 41036-T, 41037, 41037-T, 41034, 41034-T, 41035, 41035-T, 41038, - 41038-TView allHide
Cell membrane-impermeant, nuclear-specific counterstains. Suitable for fixed cells or staining dead cells in live cultures.
RedDot™2 Far-Red Nuclear Stain, 200X in DMSO
40061, 40061-1, - 40061-TView allHide
A far-red cell membrane-impermeant nuclear dye with greater nuclear specificity than Draq7™. Ideal for fixed cell nuclear counterstaining with minimal cytoplasmic RNA staining.
Ethidium Homodimer III (EthD-III)
A red fluorescent dead cell stain for bacteria and mammalian cells that is brighter than Ethidium Homodimer I.
Ethidium Homodimer III (EthD-III), 1 mM in DMSO
A red fluorescent dead cell stain for bacteria and mammalian cells
Oxazole Blue Homodimer (POPO™-1), 1 mM in DMSO
Oxazole Blue Homodimer, also known as POPO™-1, is a blue-fluorescent, cell-impermeant nucleic acid stain that can be used to stain dead or fixed cells.
Oxazole Red (YO-PRO®-3), 1 mM in DMSO
Oxazole Red, also known as YO-PRO®-3, is a far-red fluorescent, cell-impermeant nucleic acid stain that can be used to stain dead or fixed cells.
Oxazole Red Homodimer (YOYO®-3), 1 mM in DMSO
Oxazole Red Homodimer, also known as YOYO®-3, is a far-red fluorescent, cell-impermeant nucleic acid stain that can be used to stain dead or fixed cells.
Oxazole Yellow (YO-PRO®-1), 1 mM in DMSO
Oxazole Yellow, also known as YO-PRO®-1, is a green-fluorescent, cell-impermeant nucleic acid stain that can be used as a early marker of apoptosis.
Oxazole Yellow Homodimer (YOYO®-1), 1 mM in DMSO
Oxazole Yellow Homodimer, also known as YOYO®-1, is a green-fluorescent, cell-impermeant nucleic acid stain that can be used to stain dead or fixed cells.
Thiazole Red (TO-PRO®-3), 1 mM in DMSO
Thiazole Red, also known as TO-PRO®-3, is a cell-impermeant, high-affinity far-red nucleic acid stain.
Thiazole Red Homodimer (TOTO®-3), 1 mM in DMSO
Thiazole red homodimer (TRhD), also known as TOTO®-3, is a cell-impermeant, high-affinity, far-red fluorogenic nucleic acid stain.
TO Iodide (TO-PRO®-1), 1 mM in DMSO
TO Iodide, also known as TO-PRO®-1, is a green fluorescent, cell-impermeant nucleic acid stain that can be used to stain dead or fixed cells.
Oxazole Blue (PO-PRO™-1), 1 mM in DMSO
Oxazole Blue, also known as PO-PRO™-1, is a blue-fluorescent, cell-impermeant nucleic acid stain that can be used to stain dead or fixed cells.