A Tris-Buffered Saline solution, concentrated tenfold, is a common laboratory reagent utilized in various biochemical and molecular biology applications. This concentrated formulation requires dilution prior to use, typically to a 1x concentration. An example preparation involves dissolving specific amounts of Tris base, sodium chloride, and sometimes potassium chloride in deionized water, followed by pH adjustment using hydrochloric acid.
The utility of a concentrated stock solution lies in its convenience and reduced storage space requirements. It offers a time-saving approach, minimizing the need to repeatedly weigh out and dissolve the individual components. Furthermore, preparing a large batch of the concentrate ensures consistency across multiple experiments and reduces potential variability introduced by minor differences in reagent quality or measurement errors. Its widespread adoption stems from its effectiveness in maintaining a stable pH environment, crucial for enzyme activity and protein stability in various biological assays. Originally developed to mimic physiological salt concentrations, it has become a standard component in cell culture, Western blotting, ELISA assays, and immunohistochemistry.
