Citifluor AF200 + Permafix-1 or UVM-2

Citifluor AF200 + Permafix-1 or Citifluor UVM-2 is a solution of an antifadent in glycerol and has been specially prepared for Citifluor Permafix PF and Citifluor UVM-2 solutions where DAPI is the staining material. The solutions may be used with other fluorochromes such as fluorescein, Alexa dyes and Hoechst dyes. Suitable for Cye (cyanine) dyes. The presence of the antifadent helps to reduce photo bleaching of the fluorophore. Solutions should be made up by mixing 1 part by volume of Citifluor AF200 with 3 parts by volume of Citifluor Permafix-1 or Citifluor UVM-2. The solution made with Citifluor Permafix-1 should be used within 10 hours as the efficacy of the antifadent reduces with time. A few drops of the solution should be applied to the specimen followed by a cover slip. When used with Citifluor Permafix PF evaporation of the water leaves a clear film which holds the cover slip in place thereby aiding the safe storage of the specimen. The mixture of Citifluor AF200 and Citifluor UVM-2 may be cured with light in the usual way to give a clear film.

The solution is of medium viscosity and has a water-white appearance. The Citifluor AF200/Permafix-1 solution does not keep and the efficacy of the antifadent is markedly reduced over a 10 hour period. With this in mind, it is better to make up the mixture prior to use and not to rely on keeping solutions. Solutions of Citifluor AF200 and Citifluor UVM-2 are far more stable and may be kept up to 2 months without serious deterioration (the speed at which the mountant sets under the light decreases as the age of the mixture increases).