Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about the advantages of POWER-Kit™ and how it works. Please contact us if you have any further questions or comments.
It is a complete system designed to replace the 2-syringe method to prepare emulsions with Freund’s adjuvant (Complete or Incomplete). The POWER-Kit™ can be used with any oil adjuvant and any antigen to prepare a perfect “water-in-oil” emulsion.
1) It generates high-quality emulsions
2) It is fast
3) It is reliable
4) It is user-friendly
5) It saves on expensive materials
6) It is affordable
7) It is flexible
8) It is free of repetitive stress injuries
Any animal experiment where Freund’s or any other oil-based adjuvant is used. For example:
1) Antigen-specific proliferation (in vivo or ex vivo)
2) Autoimmune models (EAE, CIA, EAU, MG, etc.)
3) Cancer immunotherapy with proteins/peptides
4) DTH experiments
5) Generation of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies
Yes. Both methods generate the same results. Read more about test results under Technology.
With POWER-Kits little expensive material is lost during preparation in comparison to other methods. The receptacle and Braun’s Injekt-F 1ml syringe have small dead-volumes. Prepare 15-20% extra, which will also be enough for quality controls. For example, to generate 6 x 1ml syringes of emulsion, prepare 7ml. If other syringes are used, more emulsion needs to be prepared and must be measured for each type of syringe.
Currently, there is only one size. The maximum final volume of emulsion that can be prepared is 8ml (8 x 1ml Injekt-F syringes). Start with 8,9ml. The receptacle holds slightly more, but cannot be completely filled up, or else a perfect emulsion will not be generated.
There is basically no minimum amount that can be prepared. However, preparing less than 4ml generates an emulsion that is less viscous. It still generates a perfect immune response and induces disease in the EAE and CIA models.
If the receptacle has been filled up to the top with adjuvant and antigen, it will result in NO mixing and an emulsion will not be generated.
When creating smaller amounts of emulsion (< 4ml), it can appear as a “runny” emulsion. This can also occur with some antigens (especially some peptides), even when large amounts are prepared. From our experience, it does not influence the results.
The so-called “Drop-Test” does NOT test the quality of an emulsion. It will ONLY tell if a “water-in-oil” emulsion has been generated or not. If the drop stays intact, it is a “water-in-oil water” emulsion. If it “dissolves” quickly, it is an “oil-in-water” emulsion. To test its quality, put a small drop on a glass-slide after you have generated the emulsion. Smear it out with a coverslip and then place it over the emulsion. Inspect the emulsion with a microscope at 200-400x final magnification. A perfect emulsion will have small uniform homogenous droplets. You can read more under Technology.
Put a small drop on a glass-slide, smear it out with a coverslip and then place it over the emulsion. Inspect the emulsion with a microscope at 200-400x final magnification. A perfect emulsion will have small uniform homogenous droplets. You can read more under Technology.