Making cheap PBS - (Apr/01/2008 )
Hi - I do lots of immunofluorescence staining work that does not require sterile PBS, and I run through a lot of PBS. I was wondering if there was a way to get PBS for cheaper. It is $5/bottle of sterile PBS, and I go through half a bottle or more each time. I guess powdered PBS (unsterile) is cheaper? I was hoping I can just dissolve PBS with autoclaved DI water (or is it PBS + DI water, then autoclave)? Are there any other components that I need to add, or some protocol you have at hand that shows you how?
Thanks,
- Eli
Hi Eli, I guess you could make it from scratch.
20X Phosphate Buffered Saline
(Dulbucco's w/o Ca+2 & Mg+2)
20X for a longer shelf life than 1X or even 10X.
20X PBS Stock Solution:
Dissolve in THIS ORDER (they'll dissolve faster) in 1 liter of H2O:
2.88 g Na2HPO4
160.00 g NaCl
4.00 g KH2PO4
4.00 g KCl
Adjust to pH 7.2 with 10 M NaOH. Filter and store at room temperature.
Thanks. Hmmm, is there an easier method? What about the prepared powder form? I checked Invitrogen's website and they sell both 10x concentrate and powder form, but the formulation of the powder form is different from 10x/1x solutions (I think the Na2HPO4 was different).
There are a few slightly different formulation out there I think.
It is SO much cheaper to make it as stemcell69 suggested rather than buying it from Invitrogen.
How is it any harder than making it from Invitrogen powder??
The only difference is you have to weigh out 4 powders rather than just adding one to water. You would
still have to pH the Invitrogen powder.
You could leave out the sterile filter step if you don't need it sterile- or autoclave if you don't have filters but do want to sterilise it.
If you are too lazy to make it up as suggested though- you might want to look at other suppliers rather than invitrogen who are quite expensive- I think that PBS tablets are available from several suppliers (but I don't think they are Ca and Mg free though- although it doesn't sound like you need it to be as you are not using it for tissue culture).
Anywho.....I guess what you chose to do will depend on your budget constraints...... 
Honey, if you think that weighing out four powders and pH-ing a solution is difficult or time-consuming, perhaps you picked the wrong job. Make up 2L of 20X solution and autoclave it, you'll have enough to last you for ages. Or, if you're feeling ambitious make 4L. You only need to do it once in a blue moon, and from then simply dilute as needed.
Ginger
Well, one reason is that measuring 4 different components and then having to alter the pH introduces more variability into each PBS solution. I don't know, do you think this will be insignificant? I do need the PBS to be without Ca/Mg, just because I don't want to mess up the staining protocols I have. Also, my lab doesn't have any of these compounds.
I would say that yeah, if well prepared, the variation will be insignificant. And these components are all extremely cheap and easy to get from several companies.
You must be in a very posh lab, spending $5 per PBS bottle when it's only for IF!!
Luminex Sheath Fluid is 1x PBS. A 20 Liter carboy is available from Fisher as cat # 40-50000 for $40.
You must be in a very posh lab, spending $5 per PBS bottle when it's only for IF!!
haha, I think my PI is spoiled from being in a stem cell biomaterials lab. I asked her we can buy powdered form or concentrate, and she refused to purchase powdered form, even if it is for IF. So I will look for a cheaper concentrated (10x or something) PBS from Invitrogen or Sigma.