Quantom Tx Microbial Cell Counter Dye and Reagents

Q. Can dyes other than the QUANTOM™ dyes be used with the QUANTOM Tx™?
A. SYTO® 9 stain may be used but since its signal intensity is different, light intensity levels should be optimized prior to counting.
Q. If my samples are fluorescent bacteria, do I still need to stain them?
A. It depends on the signal’s excitation/emission spectrum and intensity. If the spectrum falls within the instrument’s spectral capacities and the signal is strong enough, the sample may be counted without staining.
Q. How do the QUANTOM™ dyes work?
A. QUANTOM™ Total Cell Staining Dye is a fluorescent DNA binding dye. QUANTOM™ Live Cell Staining Dye permeates cells and is converted to a fluorescent product upon hydrolysis within viable cells.
Q. Can I use LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability Kits?
A. LIVE/DEAD BacLight Bacterial Viability Kits are composed of SYTO® 9 stain and propidium iodide. As the QUANTOM Tx™ has just one fluorescence channel, only the SYTO® 9 signal is detectable.
Q. Can QUANTOM™ Total Cell Staining Dye label cells other than bacteria?
A. Yes. QUANTOM™ Total Cell Staining Dye is a fluorescent DNA binding dye, so it can label any cells with DNA.
Q. What is the QUANTOM™ Live Cell Staining Dye?
A. QUANTOM™ Live Cell Staining Dye is a Calcein AM derivative. In viable cells, cellular esterases hydrolyze the dye into a fluorescent protein which is retained in intact cell membranes.
Q. Can I use fluorescein diacetate (FDA) or its derivatives for live cell counting?
A. Most bacterial cells cannot generate sufficient fluorescence with FDA to be detected by the QUANTOM Tx™.