Immunofluorescence - Question about storing cells grown on slides (Sep/01/2005 )

I have been culturing cells on slides for immunofluorescence and am wondering if anyone knows if they can be stored after fixation, but before permeabilization, blocking, primary, etc. to be used at a later point.
Or if you could comment on where good stopping points are in general and how you would suggest storing the slides (4 degrees, -20, dry, wet, etc)
Thanks!

J

I have stored slides after 4% PFA fixation for several weeks in PBS at 4 deg C prior to commencing any staining. With parafilm to make sure there is no evaporation nothing seems to go wrong and my staining works.

Hi,
I too have stored cultured cells fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS at 4C for several weeks. However, you may want to add 0.01% sodium azide to keep bacteria from growing and I believe permeabilizing them before storage is best.

Great. Thanks for the help Maximina and Yerkez!

I would expect that permeabilizing them before isn't a good idea, so I am surprised to read you find differently. Can you tell me more about it? THANKS!