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Absorption and Emission Spectra

When making decisions about which fluorochromes to use in your experiments, you'll want to know their relative emission spectra.  Simply click on the representative spectrum colors to view histograms that represent the absorption and emission spectra for each BD fluorochrome.

UV Laser Excited Dyes
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    The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet 395 (BUV395) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet family of dyes. This base dye is a polymer fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 348 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 395 nm. Driven by BD innovation, BUV395 is designed to be excited by the ultraviolet laser (355 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 380 nm (e.g., 379/28-nm bandpass filter). BUV395 is the ideal dye when using only one detector on the ultraviolet laser as it spills into no other detectors and no other fluorochromes spill into it.

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet 496 (BUV496) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BUV395 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 350 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 496 nm. BUV496, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the ultraviolet laser (355 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 500 nm (e.g., 515/30-nm bandpass filter). The acceptor dye can be excited by the violet (405 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.   

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet 563 (BUV563) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BUV395 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 350 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 564 nm. BUV563, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the ultraviolet laser (355 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 560 nm (e.g., 560/40- or 585/15-nm bandpass filter). The acceptor dye can be excited by the blue (488 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.   

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet 615 (BUV615) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BUV395 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 350 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 615 nm. BUV615, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the ultraviolet laser (355 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 615 nm (e.g, 610/20-nm bandpass filter). The acceptor dye can be excited by the blue (488 nm) and yellow-green (561 nm) lasers resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.   

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet 661 (BUV661) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BUV395 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 350 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 660 nm. BUV661, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the ultraviolet laser (355 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 660 nm (e.g., 670/25-nm bandpass filter). The acceptor dye can be excited by the red (628–640 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.   

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet 737 (BUV737) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BUV395 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 350 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 735 nm. BUV737, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the ultraviolet laser (355 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 740 nm (e.g., 740/35-nm bandpass filter). The acceptor dye can be excited by the red (628–640 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.  

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet 805 (BUV805) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Ultraviolet family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BUV395 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 351 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 803 nm. BUV805, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the ultraviolet laser (355 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 805 nm (e.g., 820/60- or 780/60-nm bandpass filter).   

Violet Laser Excited Dyes
  • Pacific Blue™ is part of the BD violet family of dyes. This is a small organic fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 404 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 455 nm. Pacific Blue™ is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 450 nm (e.g., 450/50-nm bandpass filter).

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ 421 (BV421) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ family of dyes. This polymer-technology based dye has an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 407 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 423 nm. Driven by BD innovation, BV421 is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 420 nm (e.g., 431/28- or 450/50-nm bandpass filter). BV421 is an ideal alternative for V450 as it is approximately ten times brighter with less spillover into the BV510/V500 detector.

  • BD Horizon™ Violet 450 (V450) Dye is part of the BD Horizon™ Violet family of dyes. This is a small organic fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 405 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 450 nm. V450, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 450 nm (e.g., 450/50-nm bandpass filter). The dye can be excited by the UV (355 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and spillover.

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ 480 (BV480) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ family of dyes. This polymer-technology fluorochrome has an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 440 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) of 479 nm. Driven by BD innovation, BV480 is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 480 nm (e.g., 525/50-nm bandpass filter). The increased fluorescence intensity of BV480 and narrower emission spectra make it a good alternative to BV510 or V500. Due to its excitation profile, BV480 also has less cross-laser excitation with the UV laser, resulting in less spillover into UV channels compared to BV510.

  • BD Horizon™ Violet 500 (V500) Dye is part of the BD Horizon™ Violet family of dyes. This is a small organic fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 415 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 499 nm. Driven by BD innovation, V500 is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 500 nm (e.g., 525/50-nm bandpass filter).

  • The AmCyan dye is part of the BD violet family of dyes. This dye is a fluorescent protein with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 457 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 489 nm. AmCyan is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 500 nm (e.g., 530/30-nm bandpass filter).  

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ 510 (BV510) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ family of dyes. This polymer-technology based dye has an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 327 nm/405 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 512 nm. BV510, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 510 nm (e.g., 525/50 bandpass filter). The dye can be excited by the UV (355 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and spillover.

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ 605 (BV605) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ family of dyes.  This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BV421 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 407 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 605 nm. BV605, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 610 nm (e.g., 610/20-nm bandpass filter). The acceptor dye can be excited by the yellow-green (561 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ 650 (BV650) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BV421 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 406 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 649 nm. BV650, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 650 nm (e.g., 660/20-nm bandpass filter). The acceptor dye can be excited by the red (628–640 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.  

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ 711 (BV711) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BV421 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 407 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 713 nm. BV711, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 710 nm (e.g., 712/20-nm bandpass filter). The acceptor dye can be excited by the red (628–640 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.  

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ 750 (BV750) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BV421 donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 409 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 754 nm. BV750, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the violet laser (405 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 750 nm (e.g., 750/30 nm bandpass filter).  

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ 786 (BV786) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant Violet™ family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a BV421 donor with an Ex-Max of 407 nm and an acceptor dye with an Em-Max at 786 nm. BV711, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the violet laser and detected using a filter, centered near 785 nm (e.g., 780/60-nm bandpass filter). Please ensure that your instrument’s configurations (lasers and filters) are appropriate for this dye. 

Blue Laser Excited Dyes
  • Fluorescein (FITC) is part of the BD blue family of dyes. This is a small organic fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 494 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 518 nm. FITC is designed to be excited by the blue laser (488 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 520 nm (e.g., 530/30-nm bandpass filter).  

  • Alexa Fluor™ 488 Dye is part of the BD blue family of dyes. This is a small organic fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 494-nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 517 nm. Alexa Fluor™ 488 is designed to be excited by the blue laser (488 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 520 nm (e.g., 530/30-nm bandpass filter).  

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    The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Blue 515 (BB515) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Blue family of dyes. This dye is a polymer fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 490 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) of 515 nm. Driven by BD innovation, BB515 is designed to be excited by the blue laser (488 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 520 nm (e.g., 530/30-nm bandpass filter). BB515 reagents are significantly brighter than equivalent FITC or Alexa Fluor™ 488 reagents with less spillover into the PE detector.

  • The BD Horizon Brilliant™ Blue 700 (BB700) Dye is part of the BD Horizon Brilliant™ Blue family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a polymer-technology dye donor with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 476 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 695 nm. Driven by BD innovation, BB700 is designed to be excited by the blue laser (488 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 695 nm (e.g., 695/20-nm bandpass filter). The donor dye can be excited by the violet (405 nm) laser and the acceptor dye can be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover. BB700 reagents are significantly brighter than equivalent PerCP or PerCP-Cy5.5 reagents and are less sensitive to photobleaching.  In addition, BB700 shows much less excitation by the violet (407 nm) laser resulting in less spillover. BB700 has minimal yellow-green (562 nm) excitation and is ideal for instruments with both blue (488 nm) and yellow-green (562 nm) lasers.  

  • PerCP dye is part of the BD blue family of dyes. This dye is a fluorescent protein complex with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 481 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 675 nm. PerCP is designed to be excited by the blue laser (488 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 680 nm (e.g., 695/40 nm bandpass filter). The donor dye can be partially excited by the violet (405 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.  

  • PerCP-Cy5.5 dye is part of the BD blue family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a fluorescent protein complex (PerCP) with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 482 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 676 nm. PerCP-Cy5.5 is designed to be excited by the blue laser (488 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 680 nm (e.g., 695/40-nm bandpass filter). The donor dye can be partially excited by the violet (405 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.  

Yellow-Green Laser Excited Dyes
  • R-phycoerythrin (PE) is part of the BD family of phycobiliprotein dyes. This fluorochrome is a multimeric fluorescent phycobiliprotein with excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 496 nm and 566 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 576 nm. PE is designed to be excited by the blue (488 nm), green (532 nm) and yellow-green (561 nm) lasers and detected using an optical filter centered near 575 nm (e.g., 575/26-nm bandpass filter). As PE is excited by multiple lasers, this can result in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover on instruments with various combinations of blue, green and yellow-green lasers.  

  • BD Horizon™ PE-CF594 Dye is a part of the BD PE family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a R-phycoerythrin (PE) donor that has excitation maxima (Ex-Max) of 496 nm and 566 nm and an acceptor dye with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 615 nm. PE-CF594, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the blue (488 nm), green (532 nm) and yellow-green (561 nm) lasers and detected using an optical filter centered near 615 nm (e.g., 610/20-nm bandpass filter). The donor dye can be excited by the blue (488 nm), green (532 nm) and yellow-green (561 nm) lasers and the acceptor dye can be excited by the green (532 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.  

  • PE-Cy5 dye is a part of the BD PE family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a R-phycoerythrin (PE) donor that has excitation maxima (Ex-Max) of 496 nm and 566 nm and an acceptor dye, Cy5, with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 670 nm. PE is designed to be excited by the blue (488 nm), green (532 nm) and yellow-green (561 nm) lasers and detected using an optical filter centered near 670 nm (e.g., 670/20-nm bandpass filter). The donor dye can be excited by the blue (488 nm), green (532 nm) and yellow-green (561 nm) lasers and the acceptor dye can be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.  

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    PE-Cy7 dye is a part of the BD PE family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a R-phycoerythrin (PE) donor that has excitation maxima (Ex-Max) of 496 nm and 566 nm and an acceptor dye, Cy7, with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 781 nm. PE can be excited by the blue (488 nm), green (532 nm) and yellow-green (561 nm) lasers and detected using an optical filter centered near 781 nm (e.g., 760/60-nm bandpass filter). The donor dye can be excited by the blue (488 nm), green (532 nm) and yellow-green (561 nm) lasers and the acceptor dye can be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser resulting in cross-laser excitation and fluorescence spillover.  

Red Laser Excited Dyes
  • Alexa Fluor 647 Dye is part of the BD red family of dyes. This is a small organic fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 653 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 669 nm. Alexa Fluor™ 647 is designed to be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser and detected using an optical filter centered near 520 nm (e.g., 660/20 nm bandpass filter).  

  • Allophycocyanin (APC) is part of the BD family of phycobiliprotein dyes. This fluorochrome is a multimeric fluorescent phycobiliprotein with excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 651 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 660 nm. APC is designed to be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser and detected using an optical filter centered near 660 nm (e.g., 660/20 nm bandpass filter).  

  • Alexa Fluor™ 700 Dye is part of the BD red family of dyes. This is a small organic fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 697 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 719 nm. Alexa Fluor™ 700 is designed to be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser and detected using an optical filter centered near 720 nm (e.g., 720/40-nm bandpass filter).  

  • The BD Horizon™ APC-R700 Dye is a part of the BD APC red family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of an allophycocyanin (APC) dye donor that has excitation maximum (Ex-Max) of 651 nm and an acceptor dye, R700, with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 706 nm. APC-R700, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser and detected using an optical filter centered near 710 nm (e.g., 720/40-nm bandpass filter). APC-R700 is a brighter alternative to Alexa Fluor™ 700.  

  • The BD Horizon™ Red 718 (R718) Dye is part of the BD red family of dyes. It is a small organic fluorochrome with an excitation maximum (Ex-Max) at 695 nm and an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 718 nm. Driven by BD innovation, R718 is designed to be excited by the red laser (627–640 nm) and detected using an optical filter centered near 720 nm (e.g., 720/40-nm bandpass filter). R718 is a brighter alternative to Alexa Fluor™ 700. R718 is also a bright small molecule alternative to APC-R700 with lower spread into the APC detector.   

  • APC-Cy7 dye is a part of the BD APC red family of dyes.  This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a allophycocyanin (APC) donor that has excitation maxima (Ex-Max) of 651 nm and an acceptor dye, Cy7, with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 779 nm. APC-Cy7 can be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser and detected using an optical filter centered near 780 nm (e.g., 760/60-nm bandpass filter).  

  • The BD Horizon™ APC-H7 Dye is a part of the BD APC red family of dyes. This tandem fluorochrome is comprised of a allophycocyanin (APC) donor that has excitation maxima (Ex-Max) of 659 nm and an acceptor dye, H7, with an emission maximum (Em-Max) at 782 nm. APC-H7, driven by BD innovation, is designed to be excited by the red (627–640 nm) laser and detected using an optical filter centered near 780 nm (e.g., 760/60-nm bandpass filter).

For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.

Alexa Fluor and Pacific Blue are trademarks of Life Technologies Corporation. CF is trademark of Biotium, Inc. Cy is a trademark of Global Life Sciences Solutions Germany GmbH or an affiliate doing business as Cytiva.

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