Name: MycoLight™ vPCR Star
Brand: AAT Bioquest
SKU: 24211
Price: 250 USD
Availability: InStock

MycoLight™ vPCR Star

MycoLight™ vPCR Star is the first non-light-activated viability dye that selectively penetrates dead cells to bind DNA, preventing amplification of non-viable bacterial and viral samples without photoactivation.

No Light Activation Required: Eliminates light-induced DNA damage and enabling convenient, high-throughput sample processing
Selective Dead Cell Exclusion: Penetrates only compromised cell membranes to bind DNA in non-viable cells, preventing PCR amplification and ensuring detection of live bacteria and viruses only
Bacterial and Viral Compatible: Works with diverse microbial samples including difficult-to-lyse organisms
Superior to PMA Technology: Avoids irradiation requirements, preventing sample damage and eliminating dark-room operations

Normalized qPCR curves from a viability PCR experiment in which live and heat-inactivated E. coli were treated with MycoLight™ vPCR Star. qPCR was performed using primers against a region of the uidA gene. MycoLight™ vPCR Star treatment had no effect on amplification of DNA from live E. coli, but caused a significant delay in amplification of DNA from heat-killed E. coli. Propidium Monoazide did not work in the absence of light exposure.

Protocol

SDS

Catalog	Size	Price	Quantity
24211	1 mg	Price

Overview

MycoLight™ vPCR Star is the first commercial non-light-activated reagent that can be used to eliminate the false signal caused by dead cells in the PCR-based detection of viable bacterial and viral samples. It is effective and extremely convenient to use. Unlike Propidium monoazide (PMA), its activity does not require UV-light activation. MycoLight™ vPCR Star only penetrates cells with compromised cell membranes (non-viable cells) and reacts with DNA, rendering the DNA of dead cells unable to be amplified by PCR. MycoLight™ vPCR Star-based PCR has been shown to differentiate between non-viable and viable bacteria. It has been used to overcome the low selectivity in detecting bacteria and viruses based on its cell permeability. PMA is regularly used in vPCR detection of bacterial and viral samples. However, PMA’s effectiveness requires strong UV irradiation of samples. UV irradiation is known to cause DNA damage and other detrimental effects to biological samples to be analyzed, thus resulting in inaccurate results (M. Kuick et al, Int J Mol Sci, 2020, 21(19), 7264; S. Kaur et al, Anal Chem, 2024, 2914–2921). In addition, UV irradiation requires operations carried out in the dark, which makes the sample analysis tedious and inconvenient with low throughput.

Calculators

Common stock solution preparation

Table 1. Volume of Water needed to reconstitute specific mass of MycoLight™ vPCR Star to given concentration. Note that volume is only for preparing stock solution. Refer to sample experimental protocol for appropriate experimental/physiological buffers.

	0.1 mg	0.5 mg	1 mg	5 mg	10 mg
1 mM	63.838 µL	319.191 µL	638.382 µL	3.192 mL	6.384 mL
5 mM	12.768 µL	63.838 µL	127.676 µL	638.382 µL	1.277 mL
10 mM	6.384 µL	31.919 µL	63.838 µL	319.191 µL	638.382 µL

Molarity calculator

Enter any two values (mass, volume, concentration) to calculate the third.

Mass (Calculate)		Molecular weight		Volume (Calculate)		Concentration (Calculate)		Moles
mg	÷	1566.46 g/mol	=	mL	x	mM	=	mmol

References

View all 50 references: Citation Explorer

Highly viable gastrointestinal Chlamydia trachomatis in women abstaining from receptive anal intercourse.

Authors:

Karlsson, Philip A and Wänn, Mimmi and Wang, Helen and Falk, Lars and Herrmann, Björn

Journal:

Scientific reports (2025): 1641

Viability assessment of Chlamydia trachomatis in men who have sex with men using molecular and culture methods.

Authors:

Rayo, Enrique and Pesch, Theresa and Onorini, Delia and Leonard, Cory and Marti, Hanna and Schoborg, Robert and Low, Nicola and Hampel, Benjamin and Borel, Nicole

Journal:

Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious D (2025): 802-807

Survival of viruses in water microcosms.

Authors:

Girón-Guzmán, Inés and Falcó, Irene and Cuevas-Ferrando, Enric and Ballesteros, Sandra and Barranquero, Regino and Sánchez, Gloria

Journal:

The Science of the total environment (2025): 178416

Still not sterile: viability-based assessment of the skin microbiome following pre-surgical application of a broad-spectrum antiseptic reveals transient pathogen enrichment and long-term recovery.

Authors:

Townsend, Elizabeth C and Xu, Kayla and De La Cruz, Karinda and Huang, Lynda and Sandstrom, Shelby and Arend, Delanie and Gromek, Owen and Scarborough, John and Huttenlocher, Anna and Gibson, Angela L F and Kalan, Lindsay R

Journal:

Microbiology spectrum (2025): e0287324

Enhancing Acanthamoeba diagnostics: rapid detection of viable Acanthamoeba trophozoites and cysts using viability PCR assay.

Authors:

Veugen, J M J and Savelkoul, P H M and Nuijts, R M M A and Dickman, M M and Wolffs, P F G

Journal:

Microbiology spectrum (2025): e0181124

Physical properties

Molecular weight	1566.46
Solvent	Water

Usage and storage

Intended use	Research Use Only (RUO)
Storage	Freeze (< -15 °C); Minimize light exposure

Telephone
Fax
Email	sales@aatbio.com
International	See distributors
Bulk request	Inquire
Custom size	Inquire
Technical Support	Contact us
Request quotation	Request
Purchase order	Send to sales@aatbio.com
Shipping	Standard overnight for United States, inquire for international

Page updated on July 15, 2026