The ReadyProbes™ Hydrophobic Barrier Pap Pen is a specialized laboratory marking tool designed to create clean, water-repellent boundaries on microscope slides and coverslips. By drawing a simple circle or rectangle around tissue sections or cell samples, researchers can confine aqueous incubation reagents to a defined area—reducing reagent consumption and improving workflow efficiency for immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC), immunofluorescence (IF), and in situ hybridization (ISH).

The pen produces a light blue, heat-resistant, hydrophobic barrier that is stable during common laboratory staining and detection procedures. It is resistant to detergents, alcohols, and acetone, yet can be removed easily using clearing agents such as xylene.

Ordering Information

Key Features

• Creates a water-repellent hydrophobic barrier on glass microscope slides.
• Helps confine reagents to specific areas, allowing lower reagent volumes and preventing cross-contamination.
• Compatible with most IHC, ICC, IF, and ISH protocols.
• Heat-resistant barrier suitable for heating steps in staining workflows.
• Detergent-resistant, insoluble in alcohol and acetone.
• Easily removable with clearing agents such as xylene.
• Produces a light blue barrier line for clear visibility during slide preparation.
• Ideal for multi-section slides, enabling separate processing areas on a single slide.

Usage Guidance

1. Dab the pen tip on a paper towel to ensure smooth ink flow.
2. Lightly draw a thick circle or rectangle around the tissue area, keeping a few mm from the edge.
3. Apply 2–4 passes to create a strong barrier.
4. Allow the barrier to dry for 20–30 minutes before adding reagents.
5. Reapply if needed for prolonged incubations.

Specifications

The ReadyProbes™ Hydrophobic Barrier Pap Pen is an essential tool for precise slide preparation in histology, immunostaining, and fluorescence workflows. Its strong, heat-resistant hydrophobic barrier helps conserve valuable reagents, supports multi-sample slide organization, and ensures consistency across staining procedures. Easy to apply and compatible with the most common laboratory reagents, this pen provides reliable performance for everyday tissue and cell staining applications.