| Field | Specification |
|---|---|
| Mfr No | |
| Assay Time | |
| Detection Method | |
| Product Type | |
| Sample Type(s) | Water, plant tisse, soil samples, and antibody conjugation solutions |
| Shipping | |
| Species | |
| Storage |
Overview
For quantitative determination of boron in agricultural and environmental samples. The assay uses OD420nm for signal readout. Compatible sample input includes Water, plant tisse, soil samples, and antibody conjugation solutions. Typical stated assay timing is 40 min.
Key elements and design rationale
- Readout format: OD420nm supports plate-based signal acquisition and consistent comparison across matched samples.
- Sample compatibility: The stated sample scope includes Water, plant tisse, soil samples, and antibody conjugation solutions, which is useful when aligning matrix type with calibration and control design.
- Analytical range context: The supplied specifications include a stated detection limit of 0.05 µg/mL or 0.05 ppm for interpreting low-signal samples.
- Feature emphasis: Fast and sensitive. Linear detection range: 0.05 to 10 µg/mL (0.05 – 10 ppm) boron with 100 µL sample (96-well).
Additional feature notes highlight Convenient. The procedure involves adding a single working reagent; High-throughput. “Add-mix-read” type assay. Can be readily automated as a high-throughput 96-well or 384-well plate assay for thousands of samples per day. Available format information for this listing includes 100 Tests.
Biological background
This product is centered on measurement of boron within the matrices described for the assay. In practice, datasets from this type of format are typically interpreted by comparing relative signal, activity, or abundance across matched control and experimental groups rather than relying on a single value in isolation. Careful alignment of sample matrix, incubation window, and calibration strategy is important when comparing results across plates, operators, or study days.
More details
BORONis an essential micronutrient in plants and is involved in maintaining robust cell walls, cell membranes, and reproductive tissues. Although boron is common in the soil in its natural state as a borate mineral, the amount of boron available to plants is actually quite small. As a result, boron deficiency is the second most common micronutrient deficiency among crop plants. In order to keep plant boron levels in a healthy range, supplementation to the soil via fertilizers and additives is often required. If not regulated, a lack of or excess of boron may significantly lower crop yield. In the biotech industry, sodium borohydride is commonly used to conjugate antibodies and typically needs to be removed from the final product, especially for therapeutic antibodies.BioAssay Systems’ boron detection kit provides a convenient and reliable means to measure boron. In the assay borate complexes with azomethine-H to create a colored compound that can be measured at 420 nm. This assay can be used with a variety of samples and is simple, sensitive, and adaptable to high-throughput screening.
Detection method
Colorimetric (OD 420 nm).
Detection limit and analytical sensitivity
Reported detection limit: 0.05 µg/mL or 0.05 ppm.
Procedures and timing
Stated procedure or timing information: 40 min.
Research relevance and current trends
- Plate-based quantification and side-by-side group comparison remain central use cases for this assay format.
- The product notes emphasize multi-sample throughput, making it relevant for screening-oriented and larger batch comparison studies.
- Short assay timing and plate compatibility support time-course or repeated-measure collection plans when handling is kept consistent.
Common research applications
- Quantify boron in water, plant tisse, soil samples by OD420 nm readout.
- Compare treatment or phenotype groups using matched water, plant tisse, soil samples handling.
- Monitor time-course or pre/post changes in water, plant tisse, soil samples across study conditions.
Interpretation is usually strongest when signal changes are assessed alongside matrix-matched controls, replicate agreement, and the assay's stated analytical window.
Notes for experimental interpretation
- Matrix composition, background signal, and sample handling can influence apparent response; compare like-with-like whenever possible.
- Use appropriate blanks, controls, and replicate wells to distinguish biological differences from plate, reagent, or handling variability.
My sample has background absorbance at OD420nm; will this be an issue with the assay?
The calculation provided in the protocol accounts for sample background by subtracting the sample background blank.
After I make the working reagent, how long is it good for?
The working reagent should be made fresh and used within 15 minutes.
My samples have very high/low ODs, what is happening?
If your samples have very low ODs you may be below the kit detection limit. If your sample is from a soil or plant extraction, consider a more concentrated extraction to increase the amount of boron in the sample. If your samples have high ODs consider diluting them so they fall within the linear range of the standard curve.
Can I use this kit to determine the level of boron in my metal, glass, etc.?
This kit is optimized to detect boron in the form of borates and cannot be guaranteed to work with synthesized, and/or exotic boron compounds. However, samples may be treated to convert boron to borates.
How can I extract boron from a soil sample?
For dry weight analysis, first completely dry the soil to remove all water weight. Next, we recommend mixing 5 g of soil (sieved to remove rocks and debris) with 50 mL of 50 mM HCl for 30 min. Centrifuge the sample to pellet precipitates and use the supernatant for the assay. Note: if there are soil particles floating make sure to avoid them when pipetting; your sample should be completely free of particulate matter.
How can I extract boron from a plant sample?
For dry weight analysis, first completely dry the plant matter to remove all water weight. Next, we recommend burning 5 to 10 g of plant matter to ashes in a crucible at 500 degrees Fahrenheit for 3 hours in a drying oven. You may also use a blow torch to burn to ashes if a drying oven is not available. Mix all of the ashed plant material with 50 mL of 50 mM HCl for 30 min. Centrifuge the sample to pellet the ash and use the supernatant for the assay. Note: if there are ash particles floating make sure to avoid them when pipetting; your sample should be completely free of particulate matter.
My sample is in an acidic/basic solution, can I use it for the assay?
If samples are strongly acidic or basic they should be adjusted to a pH of 5-7. Weak or dilute acids and bases do not need to be pH adjusted as the Working Reagent has sufficient buffering capacity.
Why do you subtract the water OD from the background OD in the formula?
In the [Boron] equation the ODBLANK is subtracted from the ODSAMPLE to remove any contribution from the reagent, plate, and reaction volume from the OD of the sample. ODH2O is subtracted from the ODSAMPLE BG so that only the background absorbance of the sample is further subtracted from the ODSAMPLE or, in other words, to make sure that the plate and reaction volume contributions to the ODSAMPLE are not subtracted out twice.
For laboratories requiring additional technical capacity, we provide scientific support services including assay execution, method guidance, product sourcing, and customization to align the assay with specific experimental objectives. If you need assistance selecting the appropriate kit configuration, adapting the workflow to your application, or identifying related research services, please click Talk to a Scientist, email support@biohippo.com, or review our Research Services; a member of our scientific team will follow up with recommendations tailored to your study.
