Bio-Rad Introduces Criterion Stain Free Imaging System

Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. has announced the launch of the Criterion Stain Free™ imaging system, designed to enable stain-free detection and quantitation of proteins. The system consists of a new formulation of Bio-Rad’s Criterion precast gels, a Criterion Stain Free imager, and Image Lab™ software.

SDS-PAGE followed by Coomassie brilliant blue staining, is a standard, widely used method used to separate proteins and monitor the progress of protein purification workflows. The process involves running a gel at each chromatographic step, followed by a staining and destaining procedure, which can be a time consuming step.

Two major limitations of the SDS-PAGE followed by Coomassie brilliant blue staining method are the limited use for protein quantitation and lack of reproducibility.

The Criterion Stain Free system is designed to enable scientists to bypass the staining and destaining steps of SDS-PAGE and visualize protein samples in two and one half minutes after electrophoresis. In addition, the system captures digital images of gels to make record keeping easy and gel drying obsolete.

Key benefits of the system are:

• Gel images may be obtained in as little as two and one half minutes after electrophoresis

• One-touch instrument operation

• Equal or improved sensitivity compared to a Coomassie stain

• It is compatible with western blotting and mass spectrometry

• Digital images and data are easy to share, print, and store

• The need for a gel drying step is eliminated

• There is no organic waste as a result of the process.

“The Criterion Stain Free imaging system provides researchers the ability to standardize their protocols and dramatically shorten their time to results,” said Charles Martin, Bio-Rad marketing manager, Imaging Systems and Software. “As a result, scientists can quickly move on to the next step in their experimental workflow.”