Flow cytometry is entering a new era—one where clearer data, more parameters and stronger biological insights are within reach. BD Horizon™ Real Fluorochromes RB824 and RV828 push emission farther into the near‑infrared (NIR) region, moving away from the crowded visible spectrum and helping you unlock more from every panel.
Why Near Infrared Matters
Many traditional fluorochromes emit between 600–750 nm, creating spectral overlap and forcing difficult compromises in panel design. RB824 and RV828 emit in the NIR range—where autofluorescence is lower and fewer dyes reside.
Meet the new NIR‑emitting fluorochromes
BD Horizon RealBlue™ 824 Reagents
| Format | Ex Max | Em Max | Spectral | Conventional | Relative Brightness | Spillover* (1 = low, 4 = high) | Alternative To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RB824 | 488 nm | 824 nm | ✓ | ✓ | 1 | PerCP/Fire™ 806, StarBright™ Blue 810 |
*Value may vary based on instrument configuration and settings. Spillover ranking is based on cross-laser excitation on five-laser spectral instruments and does not take into account spillover into adjacent detectors.
BD Horizon RealViolet™ 828 Reagents
| Format | Ex Max | Em Max | Spectral | Conventional | Relative Brightness | Spillover* (1 = low, 4 = high) | Alternative To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RV828 | 412 nm | 828 nm | ✓ | - | 1 | Qdot™ 800, NovaFluor™ V800 |
*Value may vary based on instrument configuration and settings. Spillover ranking is based on cross-laser excitation on five-laser spectral instruments and does not take into account spillover into adjacent detectors.
Both dyes deliver BD Horizon™ Real Fluorochrome benefits:
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Low spectral overlap -
Robust intracellular performance -
Lot-to-lot consistency and stability
Spectral signature heat map of RB824 and RV828 demonstrates minimal cross-laser excitation
The detected signals of RB824 and RV828 from 78 APDs across five lasers using the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter highlighting the low cross-laser excitation.
BD Horizon RealBlue™ 824 and RealViolet™ 828 can easily be added to existing panels as drop-ins
12- and 14-color panels were compared using the complexity score generated by the BD® Spectrum Viewer Similarity Matrix. Adding RB824 and RV828 to the 12-color panel, alongside adjacent dyes BV786 and RB780, did not increase complexity.
Even better together: BD Horizon™ Real Dyes + BD FACSDiscover™ Flow Cytometers
The BD FACSDiscover™ Flow Cytometers have an expanded detection range designed to fully capture NIR-emitting fluorochromes.
The BD FACSDiscover™ Platform demonstrates an expanded far-red spectral range compared to the Cytek™ Aurora Flow Cytometer. The excitation and emission spectrum of BV786, RV828, RB780 and RB824 were obtained from BD® Spectrum Viewer.
RB780 and RB824 are compatible across various spectral flow cytometer platforms though performance may vary based on detector configuration. In this data set, reduced spread between RB780 and RB824 is observed on the BD FACSDiscover™ A8 Cell Analyzer, as demonstrated by human CD4 (SK3) PBMC overlays. While this combination may present higher spread on the Cytek™ Aurora Platform, it remains a suitable pairing for panel design. BD FACSDiscover™ A8 Cell Analyzer data acquired by BD and Aurora data provided by an external collaborator.
Why the BD FACSDiscover™ Platform elevates NIR-emitting fluorochromes
The BD FACSDiscover™ Platform delivers:
- An extended detection range to include NIR: Extended spectral detection captures emissions across the visible and NIR regions—ideal for RB824 and RV828.
- Advanced optics for reduced background and enhanced resolution: Optimized detectors and optical paths helps capture NIR signals with clarity, even for rare or low-expressed markers.
Ready to break away from the crowded visible spectrum?
Expand your research with RB824 and RV828.
BD flow cytometers are Class 1 Laser Products.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.