Theory of Confocal Microscopy

Fluorochrome Data Table

As a guide to fluorophores for confocal and widefield fluorescence microscopy, the table presented below lists many commonly-used fluorochromes, with their respective peak absorption and emission wavelengths and suggested laser illumination sources. While the authors assume responsibility for the accurate reporting of the data as published in various reliable sources, several caveats must be given. Fluorochrome dyes are environmentally sensitive and different results will be obtained with different solvents and applications. In reviewing the literature, one will frequently find somewhat different data supplied for the identical fluorochrome. There are also, in many instances, several sub-varieties of a fluorochrome.

The Handbook of Fluorescent Probes and Research Chemicals, published by Molecular Probes, Inc. in Eugene, Oregon is a rich source of information about fluorochrome dyes. Also, consult the publications of Omega Optical and Chroma Technology.

Fluorochrome Peak Absorption and Emission Wavelengths

Fluorochrome Absorption Wavelength Emission Wavelength Suggested Laser Acid Fuchsin 540 630 Green He-Ne ACMA (Aminochloromethoxyacridine) 430 474 Blue Diode Acridine Orange (Bound to DNA) 502 526 Argon-Ion Acridine Red 455-600 560-680 Argon-Ion Acridine Yellow 470 550 Argon-Ion Acriflavin 436 520 Blue Diode AFA (Acriflavin Feulgen SITSA) 355-425 460 Blue Diode Alexa Fluor 350 346 442 Helium-Cadmium Alexa Fluor 405 401 421 Blue Diode Alexa Fluor 430 433 541 Blue Diode Alexa Fluor 488 495 519 Argon-Ion Alexa Fluor 500 503 525 Argon-Ion Alexa Fluor 514 518 540 Argon-Ion Alexa Fluor 532 532 553 Krypton-Argon Alexa Fluor 546 556 573 Green He-Ne Alexa Fluor 555 555 565 Krypton-Argon Alexa Fluor 568 578 603 Krypton-Argon Alexa Fluor 594 590 617 Orange He-Ne Alexa Fluor 610 612 628 Orange He-Ne Alexa Fluor 633 632 647 Red He-Ne Alexa Fluor 647 650 665 Krypton-Argon Alexa Fluor 660 663 690 Red Diode Alexa Fluor 680 679 702 Red Diode Alizarin Complexon 530-560 580 Green He-Ne Alizarin Red 530-560 580 Green He-Ne AMCA 350 445 Helium-Cadmium Aminoactinomycin D 555 655 Krypton-Argon 6-Aminoquinoline 355 550 Helium-Cadmium Aniline Blue 370 509 Argon-Ion ANS (Anilinonaphthalene Sulfonic Acid) 385 485 Blue Diode Anthroyl Stearate 361-381 446 Argon-Ion APC (Allophycocyanin) 650 661 Krypton-Argon Astrazon Brilliant Red 4G 500 585 Argon-Ion Astrazon Orange R 470 540 Argon-Ion Astrazon Red 6B 520 595 Argon-Ion Astrazon Yellow 7 GLL 450 480 Argon-Ion Atabrine 436 490 Blue Diode ATTO-TAG CBQ 465 560 Argon-Ion ATTO-TAG FQ 486 591 Argon-Ion Auramine O 460 550 Argon-Ion Aurophosphine 450-490 515 Argon-Ion Aurophosphine G 450 580 Argon-Ion BAO 9-(Bisaminophenyloxadiazole) 365 395 Argon-Ion BCECF 505 530 Argon-Ion Berberine Sulphate 430 550 Blue Diode Bisbenzamide 360 600-610 Helium-Cadmium BOBO-1, BO-PRO-1 462 481 Argon-Ion BOBO-3, BO-PRO-3 570 604 Krypton-Argon Blancophor FFG Solution 390 470 Blue Diode Blancophor SV 370 435 Argon-Ion BODIPY FL 503 512 Argon-Ion BODIPY TMR 542 574 Green He-Ne BODIPY TR 589 617 Yellow He-Ne BODIPY 492/515 490 515 Argon-Ion BODIPY 493/503 500 506 Argon-Ion BODIPY 500/510 509 515 Argon-Ion BODIPY 505/515 502 510 Argon-Ion BODIPY 530/550 533 550 Krypton-Argon BODIPY 558/568 558 568 Krypton-Argon BODIPY 564/570 564 570 Krypton-Argon BODIPY 581/591 582 590 Yellow He-Ne BODIPY 630/650 625 640 Red He-Ne BODIPY 650/665 647 665 Red He-Ne BODIPY 665/676 665 676 Red Diode Brilliant Sulphoflavin FF 430 520 Blue Diode BTC (Benzothiazole Calcium Indicator) 401, 464 529 Blue Diode Calcein 494 517 Argon-Ion Calcein Blue 370 435 Argon-Ion Calcium Crimson 590 611 Yellow He-Ne Calcium Green 505 532 Argon-Ion Calcium Orange 549 576 Green He-Ne Calcofluor (RW Solution) 370 440 Argon-Ion Calcofluor White 440 500-520 Blue Diode Calcofluor White (ABT Solution) 380 475 Argon-Ion Calcofluor White (Standard Solution) 365 435 Argon-Ion Carbocyanine LDL 520 560 Argon-Ion 5-(and 6-)-Carboxy SNARF-1 Indicator 548 (Low pH) 576 (High pH) 587 (Low pH) 635 (High pH) Krypton-Argon 5-Carboxynaphthofluorescein 598 668 Yellow He-Ne 6-Carboxyrhodamine 6G 525 555 Argon-Ion Cascade Blue 400 425 Blue Diode Cascade Yellow 402 545 Blue Diode Catecholamine 410 470 Blue Diode CCF2 (GeneBLAzer) 402 520 Blue Diode CellTracker Blue 353 466 Helium-Cadmium CellTracker Green BODIPY 522 529 Argon-Ion CFDA (Carboxyfluorescein Diacetate) 495 520 Argon-Ion Chinacrine 450-490 515 Argon-Ion Chromomycin A3 450 570 Argon-Ion CL-NERF 504 (Low pH) 514 (High pH) 587 (Low pH) 540 (High pH) Argon-Ion Coriphosphine O 460 575 Argon-Ion Coumarin-Phalloidin 387 470 Blue Diode CPM (Coumarin-Maleimide) 385 465 Blue Diode CTC Formazan 450 630 Argon-Ion Cy2 489 506 Argon-Ion Cy3 548 562 Green He-Ne Cy3.1.8 554 568 Krypton-Argon Cy3.5 581 596 Krypton-Argon Cy5 650 670 Krypton-Argon