Antibody Shelf Life

[Blandar]

Hey everyone, how long do your antibodies usually last before they start losing efficiency? I’ve noticed that even when stored properly, some batches just don’t perform the same after a few months. Do you guys have a rule of thumb or preferred source with stable products?

[JoWee]

From my experience, antibody shelf life can vary a lot depending on both storage and supplier. I’ve had antibodies that started losing reactivity within six months, even when kept at –20°C, and others that lasted over a year without a hitch. I eventually realized that quality control during production matters way more than storage alone. Since I started ordering from Gentaur https://gentaur.co.uk/antibodies/ , the difference has been obvious — they arrive well-packaged, and the data sheets are incredibly detailed about proper storage conditions. Their antibodies have stayed stable way longer than most others I’ve tried. It might cost a bit more upfront, but it’s worth it when you don’t have to replace reagents every few months. So now, I always check Gentaur’s catalogue first before ordering anything else.

[MESIgoal]

Yeah, storage really makes a difference, but I’ve noticed even with perfect conditions, some antibodies just degrade faster. For us, opening and refreezing vials too often was the biggest issue — once we started aliquoting everything on day one, the stability improved a lot. I’ve also learned to avoid storing them in frost-prone freezers; it really kills their lifespan. So now I label and date every tube, even the small ones. Sounds simple, but it helps keep track of performance over time.