Polylysine From Microscope Slides

Q: Will Alconox remove the polylysine coating from microscope slides?

A: Cleaning reusable microscope slides is of course a vital process to ensure the highest optic transmission possible. Polylysine is a commonly used preservative composed of the amino acid lysine in a long polymeric chain. It is removed with either basic hydrolysis, enzymatic processes, or a combination of both.

Therefore Alconox® Powdered Precision Cleaner will indeed clean off the polylysine coating on those slides. Another option for removing the coating would be to combine basic hydrolysis and enzymatic action by using our Tergazyme® Enzyme-Active Powdered Detergent. The detergent combines excellent emulsification, along with proteases.

This recommendation would be for clean-out-of-place and manual (foaming detergent) applications. For cleaning via a washer, we would recommend Alcojet® Low Foaming Powdered Detergent and Solujet® Low-Foaming Phosphate-Free Liquid, for cup-in-door and liquid dispensing lab washers, respectively.

All of the above mentioned detergents, will remove other organic and environmental residues to ensure the slides are not just clean, but critically clean.

To request any Alconox Inc. detergents for free, please complete the questionnaire at Get Sample. For more information about any one of our Alconox Inc. detergents, consult the technical bulletin for each product. Or click here to access each of our detergent’s  Safety Data Sheets.

Do you have a critical cleaning question for the experts at Alconox Inc.?  Search TechNotes to see if it’s been answered before or Ask Alconox.

Contact us any time: cleaning@alconox.com