HotDog

I have used Avantor’s bioreagents for several batches now and am pleasantly surprised at the purity. Additionally, there is low heavy metal content and insolubles, which has increased cell viability in these cultivations.

Strengths: Molecular Biology Reagents, Analytical Chromatography, Gels for Electrophoresis

Needs to improve: Their distributors refer you back to the company instead of working with you to facilitate and resolve any issues with the product

We mostly use GoPrep for supply us with monoclonal antibodies in our insulin research. Their staff is well versed in their product and ensures their customers are well informed of the proper handling and storage needs for their products. So far we haven’t had any issues, but if we did, I’m confident their customer support would be responsive.

Strengths: Bioreagents, Antibodies, Growth Factors

Needs to improve: They do a thorough check on their customers before shipping anything, so be prepared for a long lead time before your initial product arrives

Leica’s Biosystems division offers a select range of laboratory consumables. I mostly use their Surgipath reagents for de-calcification of instruments that have come into contact with tissue samples. Using this to clean the instruments beats having to re-order a lot of equipment on a rotating basis.

Strengths: Reagents, Solutions, Decalcifiers, Fixatives

Needs to improve: US contact is practically non-existent, Isn't as well staffed as their Microsystems division

I primarily use PromoCell for their media and microbial detection and elimination kits. For the media, they are one of the few companies who offer serum-free media lines, which minimizes the effects of undesirable compounds within the batch. Their microbial detection and elimination kit has been instrumental in two of my experiments. As one knows, it’s devastating to reach the end of a 6 week cultivation only to find that your cells have died and were overtaken by foreign bodies.

Strengths: Reagents, Microbial Detection and Elimination Kits, Media for Primary Cells, Media for Blood Cells, Custom Media

Needs to improve: They have a minimum 10 bottle order for their custom media services.

ATCC media sets itself apart with formulations that are geared towards original cell line depositors. While they do offer the general culture medias offered at other companies, some of their formulations differ slightly from other commercially available equivalents, so it’s best to do some research before substituting ATCC media during the middle of growth. If you started out with ATCC media, stick with it. If you didn’t use ATCC in the beginning, best to keep it for another batch.

Strengths: Cell Culture Media, Microbial Freeze Medium, Media Supplements, Protozoan Culture Media

Needs to improve: Customer Service seems disgruntled whenever I’ve called for technical support

Cellgro is a division of Corning and carries a variety of media, solutions, and reagents for tissue and cell culture applications. The most enticing part about Cellgro is that if you start a new account with them, they offer a program called “New Lab Startup” where they’ll send you $500 of free product when you purchase $500 of product from them. $500 isn’t going to get you everything for the lab, but it’s a nice perk that we used when we first furnished and stocked our lab at the new location. We had to work through the sales rep to get this promotion.

Strengths: Medium, Buffered Salt Solutions, Cell Culture Reagents, HQ Water

Needs to improve: I had to email back and forth a couple times with the accounts payable to setup an account, but since then, everything else has been smooth

We mainly use Life Technologies to supply us with cell freezing media (Gibco Recovery freezing medium). Using their media for cryopreservation has increased cell viability in 3 batches so far, so I’ll continue using them for the foreseeable future.

Strengths: Buffers, Chemicals, Balanced Salt Solutions, Media for Cell and Tissue Applications

Needs to improve: Long wait times for technical support

We use Citrajet and Tergazyme at work to clean our bioreactors and filtration systems. The Citrajet is a non-foaming acid cleaner that we use to clean our bioreactors that handle protein synthesis, and it works well. The Tergazyme is used in our filtration systems, which we circulate through at the end of the week.

Strengths: Cleaning Detergent for Bioreactors and Filtration Systems

Needs to improve: Can’t think of anything: product works great and is delivered in a timely manner

Lab-Pro has saved my behind several times my orders from larger companies just don’t come in time, whether it’s because of unexpected backorder or unforeseen transportation issues during shipping. I picked up the phone to ask if Lab-Pro had a couple of items in stock, and they generously packed it all up for me and was ready for purchase by the time I arrived at the store. Wonderful customer service. On a side note, they sell syringes smaller than 12cc unless you want to buy in bulk.

Strengths: Carries your day to day chemicals (alcohol, DI water, etc.,) and lab supplies (beakers, graduated cylinders, syringes, pipettes, scales, ultrasonic baths); Excellent brick and mortar store if you’re located in the Bay Area for immediate purchase; Exceptional staff that provides service with a smile

Needs to improve: Their is a premium on their price for being able to purchase these items immediately

Sigma-Aldrich is a reliable company when it comes to chemical product offerings. They carry your day to day chemicals (alcohol, DI water, etc.,), but also your specialized reagents and bioactive solutions. They also carry a plant-based line called Nutrient Explorers, which is a resource for botanical oriented research.

Strengths: Wide Variety of Chemicals and Solutions: Solvents, Acids, Bioactive Solutions (Small Molecules, Nutrients)

Needs to improve: If I’m ordering something new, I’d rather do it via phone than their website, since it’s not always easy to search for items.