Ghost Dye solutions allow for clear live vs. dead cell discrimination for more precise flow cytometry analysis, and are especially useful for intracellular staining protocols.

Ghost Dyes bind irreversibly to amine groups and are resistant to subsequent washing, fixation and permeabilisation. On live cells, the dye can only bind to surface amines. Dead or effete cells with compromised membranes allow Ghost Dyes™ to permeate and bind amine groups of intracellular proteins resulting in fluorescence much brighter than live cells, which are impermeant to the dye.

Ghost Dye can be used where DNA dyes like 7-AAD and Propidium Iodide (PI) are not recommended, such as with protocols that include fixation or fixation and permeabilisation steps.