FAQ-Reagents

Q: My product was accidentally left out at room temperature or exposed to light. Is it ruined?
A: Most of our products are stable at room temperature for many days, so in all likelihood the product will still work just fine. To be on the safe side, we recommend performing a small scale positive control experiment to confirm that the product still works for your application before processing a large number of samples or precious samples.

Q: My product arrived at room temperature or thawed, but it’s supposed to be stored at 4°C or -20°C. Is it still ok?
A: Most of our products are stable at room temperature for many days, but we recommend storage at 4°C or -20°C to prolong shelf life. In the case of many of our aqueous dye solutions, the compounds are very stable at room temperature, but we recommend cold storage to prevent the growth of mold or other microbes over time. Therefore, to save on shipping costs, products with recommended storage at 4°C or -20°C may ship at ambient temperature or with an ice pack. These products may thaw without affecting product performance. When you receive the product, place it under the recommended storage conditions.

Some products are shipped with blue ice packs as an extra precaution against high temperatures. The blue ice packs may be thawed upon arrival without affecting product performance.

Products with recommended storage at ultra low temperature (-70°C) that also ship on dry ice should arrive frozen. If a product you received was shipped on dry ice and thawed during transit. 

Q: Where can I find the expiration date or shelf life of a product?
A: The guaranteed shelf life from date of receipt for bioscience kits is listed on the product information sheet. Some kits have an expiration date printed on the kit box label, this is the guaranteed shelf life date calculated from the day that the product shipped from our facility. Kits often are functional for significantly longer than the guaranteed shelf life. If you have an older kit in storage that you wish to use, we recommend performing a small scale positive control experiment to confirm that the kit still works for your application before processing a large number of samples or precious samples.

Expiration date based on date of manufacture (DOM)
If your institution requires you to document the expiration date based on the date of manufacture for reagents please contact us. 

Q: How should I store the assay kits after receiving them?
A: Store all kit components refrigerated at 2–8 °C upon receipt.

Q: Can I freeze the assay kits or standards (S1, S2)?
A: No. The assay kits and standards should not be frozen. Refrigeration only is recommended.

Q: What is the shelf life of the RNA assay kit?
A: The RNA quantification kit has an approximate shelf life of 6 months when stored refrigerated (2–8 °C).

Q:  Is the RNA kit as stable as the dsDNA kit?
A: No. The RNA assay kit is less stable than the dsDNA assay kit.

Q: What should I do before using the 200× dye?
A: Allow the dye to fully thaw to room temperature and ensure it is well mixed before use.

Q: What level of consistency should I expect between measurements?
A: Measurement results should be consistent with little variation between tests when the kit is stored and used properly.

Q: What should I do if my RNA kit is older or results are inconsistent?
A: Contact support. 

Q: Do you offer other assay kits besides RNA and dsDNA?
A: Yes we also have ssDNA, Antibody, and Protein assay kits. The dsDNA kits come in High Sensitivity, and Broad Range. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Freezing the assay kits or standards (S1, S2) — kits should be refrigerated only (2–8 °C).

• Not refrigerating the kit immediately after delivery — store at 2–8 °C upon receipt.

• Using RNA kits beyond the recommended shelf life (~6 months) — older kits may show variability.

• Not fully thawing the 200× dye to room temperature before use — incomplete thawing can affect results.

• Insufficient mixing of the dye before preparing working solutions — ensure the dye is well mixed.