Billing & Shipping FAQ
How do I order and pay?
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Place an order for one or more kits at the Molecular Instruments® online store.
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You will receive an email quote which you can use to upload your purchase order.
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Your institution will receive an email invoice at time of shipment.
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Payment is due by ACH or wire transfer within 30 days of the invoice date.
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Can I cancel my order?
Yes! You can cancel your order up until the time your purchase order is accepted. Please contact the Molecular Instruments Team (support@molecularinstruments.com).
Do you offer academic discounts?
Yes! If your organization is a university, government lab, or non-profit research institute, you are eligible for academic pricing. Register to see applicable discounts.
What are your estimated shipping times?
Upon receiving a valid purchase order, we aim to ship as follows:​​
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HCR™ HiFi Probe: 5-15 business days
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HCR™ HiFi Buffers: 1-5 business days
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: 1-5 business days
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HCR™ Gold Buffers: 1-5 business days
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HCR™ 2º Antibody Probe: 1-5 business days
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Custom HCR™ Gold Amplifier: please contact us
Ordering HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH Reagents FAQ
What comes in an HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kit?
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HCR™ HiFi Probe
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HCR™ HiFi Probe Hybridization Buffer
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HCR™ HiFi Probe Wash Buffer
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Buffer
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Wash Buffer
Can I order a subset of these components?
Yes! You can order kits containing any subset of the above components.
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What HCR™ Gold Amplifiers are available for multiplexing?
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For multiplex experiments, choose a different HCR™ Gold Amplifier (X1, X2, ..., X10) and label (405, 425, 488, 514, 546, 594, 633, 647, 700, 750, 800) for each target that will be imaged in the same sample (for example, amplifier X3-647 for target 1, amplifier X2-546 for target 2, . . . ).
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We recommend labels (488, 546, 647, 750) for robust 4-plex bandpass imaging.
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We recommend labels (405, 425, 488, 514, 546, 594, 633, 700, 750, 800) for robust 10-plex spectral imaging.
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For flexibility, amplifiers X1, X2, and X3 are available with multiple label options (488, 546, 647), while for expanded multiplexing, amplifiers X4–X10 are each available with one label option.
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We recommend using a longer-wavelength label (e.g., 647 or 750) for targets that are more difficult to detect (e.g., low-expression target and/or short target sequence), as autofluorescence tends to be higher in shorter-wavelength channels (e.g., 405 or 488).
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What do I order for a multiplex HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH experiment?
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Order one HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kit for each target RNA:
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HCR™ HiFi Probe (for use with a different amplifier for each target)
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HCR™ HiFi Probe Hybridization Buffer
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HCR™ HiFi Probe Wash Buffer
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier (for example, amplifier X3 with label 647 for target 1, amplifier X2 with label 546 for target 2, …)
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Buffer
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Wash Buffer
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Note: buffers only needed in one kit
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Example 3-plex experiment:
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HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kit for target RNA1:
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HCR™ HiFi Probe: for target RNA1 for use with amplifier X3
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HCR™ HiFi Probe Hybridization Buffer (for use with all kits)
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HCR™ HiFi Probe Wash Buffer (for use with all kits)
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X3 with label 647
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Buffer (for use with all kits)
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Wash Buffer (for use with all kits)
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HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kit for target RNA2:​
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HCR™ HiFi Probe: target RNA2 for use with amplifier X2
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X2 with label 546​
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HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kit for target RNA3:​
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HCR™ HiFi Probe: target RNA3 for use with amplifier X1
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X1 with label 488​
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I've never used HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH — what’s the best way to get started?
We offer new users a complimentary HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH Starter Kit! Please register for an account and fill out this questionnaire.
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Can I order an HCR™ Gold Amplifier labeled with a custom fluorophore?
Please contact us.
Ordering HCR™ Gold IF Reagents FAQ
What comes in an HCR™ Gold IF kit?
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HCR™ 2º Antibody Probe
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HCR™ Antibody Buffer
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Buffer
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Wash Buffer
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Can I order a subset of these components?
Yes! You can order kits containing any subset of the above components.
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What do I order for a multiplex HCR™ IF experiment?
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Use your own 1º antibody of choice for each target protein (each 1º antibody raised in a different host organism)
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Order one HCR™ Gold IF kit per target protein:
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HCR™ 2º Antibody Probe per target (each 2º antibody probe for use with a different 1º antibody and amplifier)
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HCR™ Antibody Buffer
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier per target (for example, amplifier X3 with label 647 for target 1, amplifier X2 with label 546 for target 2, …)
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Buffer
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Wash Buffer
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Note: buffers only needed in one kit
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Example 3-plex experiment:
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HCR™ Gold IF kit for target Protein1:
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1º antibody: Rabbit Anti-Protein1 (your own 1º antibody)
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HCR™ 2º Antibody Probe: Donkey Anti-Rabbit for use with amplifier X3
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HCR™ Antibody Buffer (for use with all kits)
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X3 with label 647
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Buffer (for use with all kits)
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Wash Buffer (for use with all kits)
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HCR™ Gold IF kit for target Protein2:
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1º antibody: Mouse Anti-Protein2 (your own 1º antibody)
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HCR™ 2º Antibody ​Probe: Donkey Anti-Mouse for use with amplifier X2
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X2 with label 546​
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HCR™ Gold IF kit for target Protein3:
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1º antibody: Rat Anti-Protein3 (your own 1º antibody)
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HCR™ 2º Antibody ​Probe: Donkey Anti-Rat for use with amplifier X1
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X1 with label 488
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Ordering HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH/IF Reagents FAQ
What do I order for a multiplex HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH/IF experiment?
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Order one HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kit per target RNA (see above for details)
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Order one HCR™ Gold IF kit per target protein (see above for details)
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Example 4-plex experiment (2 RNAs, 2 proteins): ​
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HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kit for target RNA1:
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HCR™ HiFi Probe: target RNA1 for use with amplifier X3
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HCR™ HiFi Probe Hybridization Buffer (for use with all RNA-FISH kits)
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HCR™ HiFi Probe Wash Buffer (for use with all RNA-FISH kits)
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X3 with label 647
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Buffer (for use with all RNA-FISH and IF kits)
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier Wash Buffer (for use with all RNA-FISH and IF kits)
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HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kit for target RNA2:​
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HCR™ HiFi Probe: target RNA2 for use with amplifier X4
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X4 with label 750
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HCR™ Gold IF kit for target Protein1:
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1º antibody: Rabbit Anti-Protein1 (your own 1º antibody)
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HCR™ 2º Antibody ​Probe: Donkey Anti-Rabbit for use with amplifier X1
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HCR™ Antibody Buffer (for use with all IF kits) ​
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HCR™ Gold amplifier: X1 with label 488
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HCR™ Gold IF kit for target Protein2:
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1º antibody: Mouse Anti-Protein2 (your own 1º antibody)
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HCR™ 2º Antibody ​Probe: Donkey Anti-Mouse for use with amplifier X2
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HCR™ Gold Amplifier: X2 with label 546
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Are HCR™ Gold Amplifiers interchangeable between HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH kits and HCR™ Gold IF kits?
Yes! The HCR™ Gold Amplifiers (488, 546, 647) are interchangeable between HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH and HCR™ Gold IF kits. Likewise, HCR™ Gold Amplifier Buffer and HCR™ Gold Amplifier Wash Buffer are interchangeable between HCR™ Gold RNA-FISH and HCR™ Gold IF kits.
HCR™ Gold, HCR™ (v3.0), HCR™ Pro, and HCR™ Ultra RNA-FISH FAQ
Are HCR™ Gold kits compatible with HCR™ (v3.0) kits?
No. HCR™ (v3.0) is based on B-system amplifiers (B1, B2, ...) whereas HCR™ Gold and the forthcoming HCR™ Ultra and HCR™ Pro product lines are based on X-system amplifiers (X1, X2, ...). B-system amplifiers and X-system amplifiers are not compatible, so HCR™ (v3.0) and HCR™ Gold cannot be used in the same experiment.
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What is the difference between HCR™ Gold and HCR™ (v3.0)?
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HCR™ Gold enhances signal-to-background in diverse sample types.
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HCR™ Gold provides standardized ingredients for robust 10-plex HCR™ spectral imaging with no repeated staining, imaging, stripping, or registration.
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HCR™ Gold Probe Wash Buffer excludes formamide, simplifying waste management for the buffer used in the highest volume.
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HCR™ Gold is forward-compatible with the forthcoming HCR™ Ultra and HCR™ Pro product lines.
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HCR™ Gold, Ultra, and Pro all use HCR™ HiFi Probes backed by the HCR™ HiFi Probe Promise.
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For maximum flexibility, it will be possible to use the same HCR™ HiFi Probe with any of HCR™ Gold, HCR™ Ultra, or HCR™ Pro signal amplification.
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If HCR™ (v3.0) is working great for my ongoing projects, can I continue to use it?
Yes. We plan to offer HCR™ (v3.0) kits for years to come to support your ongoing projects. For new projects, we recommend using HCR™ Gold.
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What are HCR™ Ultra and HCR™ Pro?
When they are released in the coming months, HCR™ Ultra (enzyme-free fluorescent) and HCR™ Pro (enzymatic chromogenic or fluorescent) will be our premium next-generation HCR™ technologies that provide unprecedented signal-to-background for the most demanding targets/samples (for example, rapid scanning of a low-expression target in a thick highly-autofluorescent sample over a large field-of-view at low magnification). ​
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What is the Infinite Catalog?
For organisms in our Infinite Catalog, you will see suggested target matches as you type, each accompanied by an optimized sequence from NCBI. Whether your target is already in the Infinite Catalog or just joining it, HCR™ HiFi Probes for any target RNA in any organism across the tree of life are designed by the MI Team using MI's proprietary probe design process with no design fee. All HCR™ HiFi Probes are backed by the HCR™ HiFi Probe Promise.
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Will it be possible to use HCR™ Gold and HCR™ Ultra together in the same experiments?
Yes, HCR™ Ultra and HCR™ Gold will both use X-system amplifiers (X1, X2, ...) so you will be able to use both technologies for different targets in the same experiment.
What if I have more questions about HCR™ (v3.0), HCR™Gold, HCR™ Ultra, or HCR™ Pro?
Please contact the MI Team so we can help support your research (support@molecularinstruments.com).
Molecular Instruments FAQ
Should I share my images with the MI Team?
Yes! We are always excited to see images from your research!
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What if I have other questions?
Please contact the Molecular Instruments Team (support@molecularinstruments.com).