For researchers concerned about assay artifacts, the Fura-2 QBT™ Calcium Kit is a simple, mix-and-read format that employs our proprietary masking technology with the industry-standard Fura-2 ratiometric calcium indicator to accurately measure calcium mobilization.
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The Fura-2 QBT Calcium Kit eliminates the cause of data variability and reduces the number of steps compared to conventional wash protocols using Fura-2.
Leveraging our proprietary masking technology with the industry-standard Fura-2 ratiometric calcium indicator, researchers can:
- See largest Fura-2 signal window available
- Eliminate wash artifacts and increase throughput with homogeneous assay
- Minimize the impact of uneven dye loading and leakage on results
- Interrogate low-density, weakly or non-adherent cells using no-wash protocol
- Assay on FlexStation® 3 and FLIPR® Tetra Systems
- Assay on FlexStation® 3 and FLIPR® Tetra Systems

Figure 1: On the FlexStation® 3 Microplate Reader, carbachol was used to stimulate the muscarinic M1 receptor on CHO M1 cells to generate concentration response curves (CRC), comparing Fura-2 QBT Dye to the BD Kit and the traditional Fura-2 wash protocol. EC50 values were similar for all methods, and were within range of published values.

Figure 2: On the FlexStation 3 Microplate Reader, 50 nM carbachol was used as agonist challenge versus an antagonist CRC of atropine. This experiment Fura-2 QBT Calcium Kit provided the largest signal window and most robust Z-factors at EC80.

Figure 3: Histamine was used to stimulate the endogenous histamine receptor on HeLa cells. Assay was measured using the FLIPR Tetra Instrument with UV LEDs. Generated concentration response curves (CRC) comparing Fura-2 QBT Dye to the BD Ratiometric Calcium Kit and traditional Fura-2 wash protocol. EC50 values were within a half log while the Z-factor at EC80 was the largest with the Fura-2 QBT Calcium Kit.

Figure 4: Assay was measured using the FLIPR Tetra Instrument with UV LEDs and used similar experimental setup and system settings in Figure 3. 40 nM histamine was used as agonist challenge versus an antagonist CRC of pyrilamine.