Introduction

FlexISH® products are designed for identification of chromosomal aberrations on various specimens by Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH). Using the FlexISH® products gives you the flexibility to choose  between a 1-day  (2 h hybridization) or a 2-day (overnight hybridization) protocol by adapting the hybridization time just according to your individual needs! 

FlexISH® brings Flexibility to Your FISH

• FlexISH® maximizes your flexibility in terms of time and laboratory management. Hybridization time can be varied between 2 hours and overnight.
• With a hybridization temperature of 37°C the FlexISH® protocol is fully compatible with routine workflows in pathology laboratories.
• In a recent comparison study, overnight and short hybridization periods showed excellent correlation between the FISH results obtained with FlexISH®, ZytoLight®, and PathVysion ERBB2 probes¹.
• Short hybridization time does not negatively affect the performance, specimen quality or diagnostic result¹.

Method Description & FlexISH® Fluorochromes

The FlexISH® system uses direct labeled FISH probes. The probes are detected by fluorescence microscopy using appropriate filter sets. Due to an exciter filter, full-spectrum light, emitted by the microscope lamp, is reduced to light of a defined wavelength that specifically excites the fluorophore of the probe. This light is reflected onto the specimen by a dichroic mirror. The fluorophore emits light of longer wavelengths that passes the mirror. Finally, a barrier filter reduces the emitted light to a defined wavelength that can be detected.

Two factors that mainly influence FISH analyses:

• Fluorochromes of the FISH probes
• Appropriate filter sets

Please refer to your local distributor for precise information regarding the suitable filter sets.

FlexISH® Kits – Convenient Solutions

All FlexISH® FISH probes can be combined with the:

• FlexISH-Tissue Implementation Kit (Z-2182-5/-20) for FISH analyses on FFPE specimens