Hank's Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS)

First formulated by the microbiologist John Hanks, Hanks’ Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) is composed mainly of inorganic salts, glucose or pyruvate as energy sources, phenol red as a pH indicator, and sodium bicarbonate as a pH stabilizer. Used to wash cells and maintain their viability, HBSS is often buffered with phosphate to ensure optimum physiological pH and osmotic pressure. Versions of the reagent can come as minimal salt solutions, excluding calcium, magnesium, phenol red, and sodium bicarbonate. Choose the preparation and composition that best suits your research needs and visit the supplier pages for detailed formulations.