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.
Propidium Iodide (PI)
40016, 40017, - 40048View allHide
A membrane-impermeant nucleic acid intercalator. The dye is commonly used to selectively stain dead cells in a mixed live-dead population and also used as a counterstain in multicolor fluorescent assays.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
NucSpot® Far-Red, 1000X in DMSO
40085, - 40085-TView allHide
An improved alternative to 7-AAD showing less bleed-through fluorescence in the PE-Texas Red® channel. Ideal for selective detection of dead cells by flow cytometry.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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), 1 mM in DMSO
A red fluorescent dead cell stain for bacteria and mammalian cells
Ethidium Homodimer III (EthD-III)
A red fluorescent dead cell stain for bacteria and mammalian cells that is brighter than Ethidium Homodimer I.