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P3813

Sigma-Aldrich

Phosphate buffered saline

powder, pH 7.4, for preparing 1 L solutions

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Synonym(s):
PBS
MDL number:
UNSPSC Code:
12161700
eCl@ss:
32129211
NACRES:
NA.25

Quality Level

form

powder

storage condition

dry at room temperature

color

white

pH

7.4

solubility

water: soluble

density

1.19 g/cm3 at 20—25 °C
1.22 g/cm3 at 20—25 °C

application(s)

diagnostic assay manufacturing
life science and biopharma
sample preparation

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General description

Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) stands as a cornerstone in biological research due to its versatility and essential properties. One primary attribute is its isotonicity, closely resembling the pH, osmolarity, and ion concentrations of the human body. This makes PBS non-toxic to cells, playing a pivotal role in cell biology procedures such as washing cells, transporting tissues, and diluting cells and reagents. These applications ensure the preservation of cell viability and the maintenance of a physiological environment.

The buffering capacity of PBS, maintained through a phosphate-phosphoric acid equilibrium, provides a stable pH environment crucial for optimal enzyme activity and various biological processes. This makes PBS ideal for preparing reagents, protein dialysis, and immunohistochemistry, ensuring consistent and reliable results in experiments. Beyond cell biology, PBS may also find applications in diverse areas, including the creation of custom ELISA buffers to ensure optimal antibody-antigen interactions. Additionally, PBS can serve as a running buffer for Protein A/G chromatography, facilitating antibody purification based on specific antigen binding. In hematological and biochemical procedures, PBS is widely used for washing cells and tissues.

In summary, PBS emerges as an indispensable tool in both biological and biochemical research, offering isotonicity, buffering capacity, simplicity, and stability. Its diverse applications in cell biology, reagent preparation, protein purification, and various biological assays underscore its significance in advancing scientific knowledge and understanding.

Application

It has been utilized for rinsing fixed tissues and creating a suitable buffer environment in the immunolocalization process(1)It has been employed as a diluent to assess the performance of a ELISA test kit(2)It has been applied as a buffer in a immunohistochemistry procedure(3)
Phosphate buffered saline has been used:
  • in the washing solutions during immunofluorescence procedure.
  • for the suspension of bacterial cells.
  • during the fixation and immunostaining procedures.
  • for rinsing fixed tissues and creating a suitable buffer environment in the immunolocalization process
  • as a diluent to assess the performance of an ELISA test kit
  • as a buffer in an immunohistochemistry procedure

Features and Benefits

  • High-quality product suitable for multiple research applications
  • Can be used as a buffer component in biological and biochemical applications
  • Highly soluble in water

Packaging

Foil pouches

Reconstitution

Contents of one pouch, when dissolved in one liter of distilled or deionized water, will yield 0.01 M phosphate buffered saline (NaCl 0.138 M; KCl - 0.0027 M); pH 7.4, at 25 °C.

Other Notes

For additional information on our range of Biochemicals, please complete this form.

WGK

WGK 3

Flash Point(F)

Not applicable

Flash Point(C)

Not applicable


Certificates of Analysis (COA)

Search for Certificates of Analysis (COA) by entering the products Lot/Batch Number. Lot and Batch Numbers can be found on a product’s label following the words ‘Lot’ or ‘Batch’.

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  1. Is Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline, a 1 X PBS solution?

    Product P3813 when prepared as directed yields a 1 X PBS solution.

  2. Does Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline, contain calcium or magnesium ions?

    There is no calcium nor magnesium added to the powder.

  3. What is the shelf life of Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline?

    The quality for unopened foil pouches stored at room temperature is guaranteed for one year from the time of receipt. The product is expected to be stable for at least 5 years.

  4. How long can solutions of Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline, be kept once prepared?

    Sigma Aldrich has not evaluated the solution stability, but sterile solutions of PBS stored at 2-8°C can be expected to be stable for several months.

  5. Which document(s) contains shelf-life or expiration date information for a given product?

    If available for a given product, the recommended re-test date or the expiration date can be found on the Certificate of Analysis.

  6. How do I get lot-specific information or a Certificate of Analysis?

    The lot specific COA document can be found by entering the lot number above under the "Documents" section.

  7. How do I find price and availability?

    There are several ways to find pricing and availability for our products. Once you log onto our website, you will find the price and availability displayed on the product detail page. You can contact any of our Customer Sales and Service offices to receive a quote.  USA customers:  1-800-325-3010 or view local office numbers.

  8. What is the Department of Transportation shipping information for this product?

    Transportation information can be found in Section 14 of the product's (M)SDS.To access the shipping information for this material, use the link on the product detail page for the product. 

  9. How much is in each pouch of Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline?

    Each pouch of phosphate buffered saline contains 8 g sodium chloride (e.g. Product No. S9625), 0.2 g potassium phosphate, monobasic (e.g. Product No. P5379), 1.15 g sodium phosphate, dibasic (e.g. Product No. S0876), 0.2 g potassium chloride (e.g. Product No. P4504), giving a total 9.55 g per packet.  This is the standard PBS formulation.

  10. Does Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline, contain calcium, magnesium or sodium bicarbonate?

    The formulation for this phosphate buffered saline product does not contain calcium, magnesium, or sodium bicarbonate.  Sigma does not assay the product for the presence of these compounds (as impurities). None of these compounds are used in the method of preparation.

  11. Is Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline, sterile?

    Phosphate buffered saline product number P3813 is not necessarily sterile.

  12. Is Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline, 1X or 10X?

    Each pouch of phosphate buffered saline product number P3813 can be used to prepare 1 Liter of a 1X PBS.

  13. Is Product P3813, Phosphate buffered saline, tested for RNase or DNase impurities?

    Phosphate buffered saline product number P3813 is not tested for RNase or DNase impurities.

  14. My question is not addressed here, how can I contact Technical Service for assistance?

    Ask a Scientist here.

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