Flow Cytometry – BestProtocols® Page 1 of 4

Red Blood Cell (RBC) Lysis Protocols

Research Use Only

 Protocol A: Using 1X or 10X RBC Lysis Buffers

 A1 Antibody Staining Followed by Lysis of Whole Peripheral Blood
 A2 Bulk Lysis of Human Whole Blood
 A3 Lysis of Mouse/Rat Spleen or Bone Marrow Cells
 Protocol B: Using 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution

Introduction
Before using peripheral blood or certain lymphoid tissue suspensions for flow cytometric analysis or for in
vitro assays, red blood cells (RBC) should be removed. The 1X RBC Lysis Buffer (cat. no. 00-4333) and
10X RBC Lysis Buffer (Multi-species) (cat. no. 00-4300) are formulated for optimal lysis of erythrocytes in
single-cell suspensions of human peripheral blood and mouse tissue (such as spleen). The buffers
contain ammonium chloride, which lyses RBC with minimal effect on leukocytes. When using human
peripheral blood for flow cytometric analysis, the RBC lysing step can be incorporated into the staining
protocol. The 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution (10X) (cat. no. 00-5333) is formulated for the combined lysis of
RBC and fixation of peripheral blood leukocytes after staining with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies.
All of the RBC lysis reagents are compatible with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies.

Protocol A: Using 1X or 10X RBC Lysis Buffers

Both the 1X and 10X RBC Buffers are designed to lyse RBC in whole blood (using heparin or EDTA as
the anti-coagulant) or tissue preparations using ammonium chloride-based osmotic shock. The 10X RBC
Lysis Buffer (Multi-species) is specially formulated for optimal lysis of RBC in peripheral blood. It has been
validated to work on whole blood from human, mouse, rat, canine and non-human primate sources. The
1X RBC Lysis Buffer is optimized for lysis of RBC in human peripheral blood or single-cell suspensions of
mouse hematopoietic tissues such as spleen or bone marrow.

General Notes
 Before use, the 10X RBC Lysis Buffer (Multi-species) must be diluted 1:10 with room
temperature, reagent-grade water.
 The 10X RBC Lysis Buffer (Multi-species) has been shown to work equivalently in blood
collected using either heparin or EDTA as the anti-coagulent.
 In general, a small number of residual RBC does not interfere with subsequent use of cells
and can be gated out during flow cytometric analysis; however, a second round of lysis can
be performed, if desired.

Materials
 1X PBS
 10X RBC Lysis Buffer (Multi-species) (cat. no. 00-4300) or 1X RBC Lysis Buffer (cat.
no. 00-4333)
 50-mL conical tubes
 Flow Cytometry Staining Buffer (cat. no. 00-4222) or other buffer of choice
 12 x 75 mm round-bottom test tubes
 Primary antibodies (directly conjugated)

For additional questions, please contact Technical Support at +1-888-810-6168 (US) or +43 1 796 4040 120 (Europe/International),
or send us an email at [email protected]
______________________________________________________________________________________
Revised 08-09-16
© Affymetrix, Inc. All rights reserved
Tel: +1-888.999.1371 or +1-858.642.2058 • Fax: +1-858.642.2046 • ebioscience.affymetrix.com • [email protected]
 Flow Cytometry – BestProtocols® Page 2 of 4

Red Blood Cell (RBC) Lysis Protocols

Research Use Only

Experimental Procedure

A1. Antibody Staining Followed by Lysis of Whole Peripheral Blood

NOTE: Refer to bulk lysis protocol (Protocol A2) for RBC lysis before antibody staining.

1. Aliquot a sample of whole blood into a tube.

For human, use 100 µl of blood.
For mouse, use 50-100 µl of blood.
For rat, use 50-100 µl of blood.
For canine, use 100 µl of blood.
For non-human primate, use 100 µl of blood.

2. Add the antibody(s) needed for staining (in a volume no greater than 50 µL) and mix
thoroughly. Refer to “Staining Cell Surface Targets for Flow Cytometry Protocols” as
found in our Best Protocols.
3. Incubate for 30 minutes in the dark at room temperature.
4. Add 2 mL of room temperature 1X RBC Lysis Buffer, and then pulse vortex or invert to
mix.
5. Incubate at room temperature in the dark.
For human, incubate for 10–15 minutes.
For mouse, incubate for 4–10 minutes.
For rat, incubate for 4–10 minutes.
For canine, incubate for 10–15 minutes.
For non-human primate, incubate for 10–15 minutes.

NOTE: Observe turbidity to evaluate red blood cell lysis. Once the sample becomes clear,
lysis is complete.

6. After lysis, centrifuge immediately at 500 x g for 5 minutes at room temperature. Decant
the supernatant.
7. [Optional] Repeat Steps 4-6.

NOTE: Step 7 is not typically necessary, as small numbers of residual red blood cells do not
interfere with subsequent assays and can be gated out during flow cytometric analysis.

8. Resuspend cells in 2 mL of Flow Cytometry Staining Buffer and centrifuge as in Step 6.

9. Decant the supernatant and resuspend the cell pellet in an appropriate volume of Flow
Cytometry Staining Buffer.
10. Analyze the samples by flow cytometry.

For additional questions, please contact Technical Support at +1-888-810-6168 (US) or +43 1 796 4040 120 (Europe/International),
or send us an email at [email protected]
______________________________________________________________________________________
Revised 08-09-16
© Affymetrix, Inc. All rights reserved
Tel: +1-888.999.1371 or +1-858.642.2058 • Fax: +1-858.642.2046 • ebioscience.affymetrix.com • [email protected]
 Flow Cytometry – BestProtocols® Page 3 of 4

Red Blood Cell (RBC) Lysis Protocols

Research Use Only

A2. Bulk Lysis of Human Whole Blood

NOTE: If cells are to be put in culture, perform all steps using asceptic techniques.

1. Add 10 mL of 1X RBC Lysis Buffer per 1 mL of human blood.

2. Incubate for 10-15 minutes at room temperature (no more than 15 minutes).

NOTE: Observe turbidity to evaluate red blood cell lysis. Once the sample becomes clear,
lysis is complete.

3. Centrifuge at 500 x g for 5 minutes at room temperature. Decant supernatant.

4. Resuspend the pellet in the appropriate volume of Flow Cytometry Staining Buffer or
buffer of choice.
5. Perform a cell count and viability analysis.
6. Proceed with cell staining or culture, as desired.

A3. Lysis of Mouse/Rat Spleen or Bone Marrow Cells

NOTE: The use of 1X RBC Lysis Buffer (cat. no 00-4333) is recommended for use with
mouse and rat tissues.

NOTE: If cells are to be put in culture, perform all steps using asceptic techniques.

1. Harvest tissue and prepare a single-cell suspension. Refer to “Cell Preparation Protocols
for Flow Cytometry” found in our Best Protocols.
2. Pellet the cells by centrifugation at 500 x g for 5 minutes at room temperature and decant
the supernatant.
3. Resuspend the pellet in 3–10 mL of 1X RBC Lysis Buffer.
4. Incubate for 4–5 minutes at room temperature.
5. Stop the lysis reaction by adding 20–30 mL of 1X PBS.
6. Centrifuge immediately at 500 x g for 5 minutes at room temperature. Decant the
supernatant.
7. Resuspend cells in 2 mL of Flow Cytometry Staining Buffer or buffer of choice and
centrifuge as in Step 6. Decant supernatant.
8. Resuspend cells in an appropriate volume of Flow Cytometry Staining Buffer or buffer of
choice.
9. Perform a cell count and viability analysis.
10. Proceed with cell staining or cell culture, as desired.

For additional questions, please contact Technical Support at +1-888-810-6168 (US) or +43 1 796 4040 120 (Europe/International),
or send us an email at [email protected]
______________________________________________________________________________________
Revised 08-09-16
© Affymetrix, Inc. All rights reserved
Tel: +1-888.999.1371 or +1-858.642.2058 • Fax: +1-858.642.2046 • ebioscience.affymetrix.com • [email protected]
 Flow Cytometry – BestProtocols® Page 4 of 4

Red Blood Cell (RBC) Lysis Protocols

Research Use Only

Protocol B: Using 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution

The 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution both lyses the RBC and fixes the remaining leukocytes. It is ideal for use
when antibody-stained blood samples are to be lysed and fixed before analysis. It may also be used to
lyse RBC and fix cells before staining with antibodies; however, it is important to confirm that the
antibodies to be used will recognize fixed epitopes on the antigens of interest. Mechanical disruption of
lymphoid tissue is generally sufficient to release cells to a single cell suspension.

General Notes
 Before use, the 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution must be diluted 1:10 with room temperature,
reagent-grade water.
 The 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution has been shown to work equivalently in blood collected using
either heparin or EDTA as the anticoagulant.

Materials
 1X PBS
 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution (10X) (cat. no. 00-5333)
 50-mL conical tubes
 Flow Cytometry Staining Buffer (cat. no. 00-4222)
 12 x 75 mm round-bottom test tubes
 Primary antibodies (directly conjugated)

Experimental Procedure

1. To 100 μL of whole blood, add the appropriate antibodies needed for surface staining
and mix thoroughly. Refer to “Staining Cell Surface Targets for Flow Cytometry
Protocols” as found in our Best Protocols.
2. Incubate for 30 minutes in the dark at room temperature.
3. Add 2 mL of room temperature 1X 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution, then invert gently.
4. Incubate for 15–60 minutes at room temperature in the dark.
5. [Optional] Samples can be stored in 1X 1-step Fix/Lyse Solution for up to 3 days at 2–
8ºC in the dark with minimal effect on brightness.

For additional questions, please contact Technical Support at +1-888-810-6168 (US) or +43 1 796 4040 120 (Europe/International),
or send us an email at [email protected]
______________________________________________________________________________________
Revised 08-09-16
© Affymetrix, Inc. All rights reserved
Tel: +1-888.999.1371 or +1-858.642.2058 • Fax: +1-858.642.2046 • ebioscience.affymetrix.com • [email protected]