Bench Tips

Advice on how to solve a challenging lab task or technique provided by a subject matter expert.

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Keep Your Spectrophotometer in Top Condition with these Low-Maintenance Tips
December 04, 2013
Spectrophotometers are generally low maintenance, but not zero maintenance. The following outlines steps you can take to keep your instrument ... read more
HPLC TLC: Keeping Your Chromatography System in Tip-Top Condition
November 20, 2013
A chromatography system can be the workhorse of your lab. Your system needs to work day and night to keep up with purification demands. It needs to ... read more
Choosing the Right DNA Polymerase for PCR
September 25, 2013
Successful PCR depends on two crucial components, a high-quality, thermostable DNA polymerase and an optimized reaction buffer. Here, we show you how ... read more
Tips for Optimizing IHC Staining
September 17, 2013
Immunohistochemistry combines the power of specific antibodies and microscopy to reveal both the location and abundance of a given protein in a tissue... read more
Bench Tips for Optimizing ELISA: It All Comes Out in the Wash
August 22, 2013
This article will provide you with tips on washing your ELISA plates using an automated plate washer, with the goal of avoiding high background and ... read more
Improve Western Blots by Including a Positive Control
August 07, 2013
What do you do when you reach the end of your Western-blot protocol only to find that the lanes on the transfer filter are completely blank? There is ... read more
Get the Most Flex from Your Multiplexed HCS Assay: Fast and Robust Results Every Time
July 10, 2013
Multiplexing high-throughput imaging assays offer researchers a powerful means for running cell-based screens, measuring the levels of multiple ... read more
Western Blot FAQs
July 02, 2013
Biocompare recently hosted a Western blot webinar sponsored by GE Healthcare Life Sciences titled: Quality Data from Every Western Blot you Run – from... read more
Tips on qPCR Assay Design and Optimization
June 28, 2013
Today, scientists can reference sequences from a multitude of publications, select from a database or catalogue of predesigned assays or even purchase... read more
Successful Use of SEC for Protein and Peptide Aggregate Analysis
June 07, 2013
Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) is well positioned to provide reliable analytical data to establish and confirm the efficacy and safety of ... read more
Best Practices for Storing Biological Samples in ULT Freezers
June 03, 2013
Although many researchers routinely use ultra-low temperature (ULT) freezers, few of us are aware of all the steps we can take to truly protect our ... read more
How to Make Sure Your CO2 Incubator Is Working Properly
May 20, 2013
The culture of mammalian cells is without a doubt one of the most important model systems in biomedical research. Despite their widespread use, ... read more
How to Keep Your Cultures Mycoplasma-Free
May 06, 2013
When it comes to mycoplasma contamination, prevention is the best option. Taking some fairly straightforward precautionary measures will minimize your... read more
Western Blot Antibodies: Ready, Set, Reuse
April 29, 2013
Western blotting is the most common method for detecting and quantifying specific proteins. The cost of running a Western is largely driven by ... read more
Optimal siRNA Transfection Using an Electroporator
April 22, 2013
There are two main transfection methods available for siRNA delivery: electroporation and liposome-based delivery systems. In general, electroporation... read more
Top Cell-Counting Tips
April 15, 2013
As more research reveals the profound biological effects of changes in cell density—such as paracrine signaling, cell adhesion and migration, ... read more
The Magic’s In the Membrane: Choose Wisely for Best Western Blot Results
April 08, 2013
It is important to validate the correct membrane type for your experimental conditions. Choosing the correct membrane type for Western blotting can ... read more
Finessing the Design of Methylation-Specific PCR Primers
April 01, 2013
CpG islands—regions of the genome with higher-than-expected frequency of CpG dinucleotides—are found in the promoters of more than half of all ... read more
Primers, by Design - Tips for Optimal DNA Primer Design
March 25, 2013
If multiple PCR optimizations have been attempted and the reaction still fails, the likely culprit is bad primers. Primers that are not specific ... read more
How to Choose the Right Antibody Conjugate for Your Experiment
March 18, 2013
Antibody conjugation is a critical step in many molecular-biology research assays. A number of factors contribute to successful conjugation, including... read more