SelectScience
Join Free
NewsLife Sciences

Key cell biology lab products reviewed by our scientists

SelectScience

From everyday reagents to state-of-the-art tech, find reviews on a range of cell biology lab products and services

18 Jan 2023
Ellen Simms
Product and Reviews Editor

Editorial article

Choosing the right lab equipment can be a complex decision. That’s why SelectScience® lab product reviews can be a valuable tool, enabling you to make an informed choice and hear what other scientists involved in cell biology have to say about the lab products they use every day.

Recently, the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) conference took place in Washington DC, a unique meeting focussed on cell biology and the fundamental basis of biology. So, we’ve pulled together some reviews on notable laboratory instrumentation for cell biology research that could benefit your lab’s workflows. From live-cell analysis and flow cytometry to custom products and reagents, find out what kind of experiences other lab manager, researchers and laboratory technicians have had with these products.

DRAQ5™ by BioStatus Limited

"DRAQ5 is simple to use since a washing step is not required. It provides a strong signal and good visualization of cell nuclei when used in confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Its red fluorescent spectrum makes it a suitable stain to work with in conjunction with other common blue and green stains as signal overlap can be avoided." Joachim Kjesbu, Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Read more reviews 

CELLBANKER® 1 by AMSBIO

"I have been using this reagent for more than ten years. This product is superior to other cell storage reagents. The viability is much higher than classic FBS/DMSO and other cell storage reagents. The cells can be stored at –80°C without reducing their viability for more than one year (and more). You don't need to wait long to get healthy cells from your frozen stock." Motohiko Kadoki, Broad Institute.

Read more reviews 

DNA/RNA Shield™ by Zymo Research

"This is a great product for storing my DNA for research. I have no trouble at all with using this product and I cannot wait to use it again." Bruce Boles, Montana State University.

Read more reviews 

Celloger® Mini Plus by CURIOSIS

"The program is intuitive, and reasonably quick and easy to get started. The ability to be able to visualize fluorescent signal as well is a big plus." Sona Relovska, Yale University.

Read more reviews 

Incucyte® Live-Cell Analysis Systems by Sartorius Group

"We have been using the Incucyte machine for over 3 years now and I have to say that this machine by far is the best and easiest to use for functional assay as well as for screening of libraries. The quality of the output is great, and I would surely recommend this to my collaborators and networking conference attendees." Taral Lunavat, University of Bergen.

Read more reviews 

MACSQuant® Analyzer 10 Flow Cytometer by Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG

"Excellent product! Would definitely recommend it. I have been using Miltenyi MACS-Quant flow cytometer for more than 5 months and have been very happy with it. Very easy to use, sensitive and fast. The best part is the auto compensation feature. Also having it with the tested Miltenyi Ab panel, makes it much easier to use." Sayantan Maji, UF.

Read more reviews 

Your knowledge helps other scientists

Your expert opinions on the scientific equipment, products or services in your lab can help other scientists identify the right products to accelerate scientific progress, and that benefits us all. Do you use any of the lab products featured in this article? Leave a review today and share your experiences.

Leave a review

Related products

Request Quote for All Products

Links

SelectScienceCompany website

Tags

Cell / Tissue CultureCell culture or tissue culture is used to study the biology of cells or tissues and to isolate cellular products in an environment which can be manipulated and well defined. Accurately control your culture environment with bioreactors or culture incubators, bind your cells to a surface or together with an extracellular matrix. Distinguish cell types with differential media or proliferate cells with certain characteristics using selective media. Enrich your media with supplements such as growth factors, sera and vitamins. Find the best cell and tissue culture products, kits and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell Lines Stem Cells and Primary CellsPrimary cell cultures, established cell lines and stem cells are vital for <i>in vitro</i> and <i>ex vivo</i> experimentation. High-quality cells, optimized for your applications, alongside optimized cell substrates, growth medium and supplements, are critical for experimental success. Explore a range of cells suitable for your applications, including isogenic cell lines, competent cells, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell lines, fungal/bacterial/mammalian cell lines, stem cells and cancer cell lines. Find the best cells for your research in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Flow Cytometry / Cell CountingFlow cytometers are used to count, sort and examine multiple characteristics of cells. Other cell analysis equipment includes image cytometers, cell counters, fluorescence-activated cell sorters (FACS), magnetic-activated cell sorters (MACS), and a range of flow cytometry assay kits. Flow cytometers can reveal information on cell viability, cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle progression, as well as identify cell populations and intracellular or cell-surface molecules. Additionally, some flow cytometers, known as FACS, have an additional sorting function after analysis. Cell counters and image cytometers count live and dead cell populations and can also conduct cell proliferation assays. Find the best flow cytometers, cell counters and cell sorters in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.Next Generation SequencingNext-generation sequencing (NGS), also known as whole-genome sequencing, high-throughput sequencing and massive parallel sequencing, produces and analyses thousands to millions of nucleotide sequences at once. Sequencing systems operate via varying technologies depending on the manufacturer, including sequencing by synthesis, ligation, pyrosequencing, ion semiconductor and single-molecule real-time sequencing. For NGS, library preparation is paramount to successful sequencing. In this section, explore a range of library preparation kits, from targeted, amplicon-based or hybridization-based kits including epigenomic, transcriptomic and genomic workflows to fragmentation kits. Find the best next-generation sequencing products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Live Cell ImagingLive cell imaging is the study of living cells using microscopes and high-content imaging systems. This technique provides in-depth insight into fast and complex biological processes, by allowing dynamic imaging of living cells instead of acquiring an individual image at a single point in time.Cell BiologyCell biology studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells. Understanding cellular processes is essential for research in areas such as cancer biology, stem cell research, and neurobiology. Techniques like flow cytometry, microscopy, and cell culture enable researchers to explore cellular mechanisms in detail. Browse our peer-reviewed product directory to find the best cell biology tools and equipment, compare products, check customer reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.Flow CytometryMicrobiologyCell Based AssaysCell-based assays use living cells to measure biological responses to various treatments or stimuli. They are essential for drug discovery, toxicology testing, and understanding cellular mechanisms. These assays are used to assess cell viability, proliferation, gene expression, and other cellular activities. Browse our peer-reviewed product directory to find the best cell-based assay tools and reagents, compare products, read customer reviews, and get pricing directly from manufacturers.

Related articles

Key cell biology lab products reviewed by our scientists