Expired GE Hybridization Kit - (Dec/01/2009 )

Hi everyone

has anyone tried using an expired (approx. 9 months ago) Gene Expression Hyb kit (Agilent)? I'm aware that it is still cheaper to buy a fresh one than to waste a microarray slide, and it is officially not recommended, but if it could be OK (components stored properly, like the redissolved Blocking Agent at -20C), it would be nice to use it...
Thanks for any advice.

not that kit in particular, but I've always used things expired, even up to a few years, and usually they're ok. sensitive reagents like peroxides and some enzymes, this doesn't apply.

hmm...tough call for you. I bet the kit's still fine, but nothing's a bigger waste of time and money than an experiment that has to be repeated.

Hi b_agnes,

if the components are stored well it should be good. I have tried with some old stuff and it used to work without any problem. If u have more of the lyophilized blocking agent, redissolve them...or use the one stored at -20.
The fragmentation buffer and hyb buffer are quite stable and can be used at a later time without any problem

Hi gogreen,

thanks a lot! This helped me to decide and I'll give it a go! Fingers crossed!

agnes

Hi agnes

DISCLAIMER
You're doing it at your own risk. I cannot guarantee the success


all the best

i recently finished off a kit that expired in november 2008 and it worked well until the last drop.

i am currently using a kit that expired the end of march and another that expired in july (all agilent ge kits).

with whatever i have observed till now.. i can in fact vouch with surity (only for the better companies) that the kits if stored in the proper storage conditions, work well till even after 6 months of their expiry. The R and D systems ELISA worked for me even after 1 and a half years of expoiry!!!
Best luck!!!! i m sure it will be fine!!
do tell us wat happened!!??!!

Thanks everyone for sharing the experiences, I'll definitely try it and will let you know how it went (maybe in January only as I have a long Christmas holiday )
all the best!

Hi Agnes, Are you going to use pretty old arrays too with the old buffers??

They were manufactured a bit more than a year ago. Why do you ask? I hope it doesn't add an extra risk factor...