Selecting an Elution Fluid for AirPrep™ and FluidPrep™ Workflows

Elution Fluids for Wet Foam Elution™ Recovery

InnovaPrep Elution Fluids are specially formulated for use with patented Wet Foam Elution™ (WFE) technology.

Used across AirPrep™ and FluidPrep™ platforms, Elution Fluids enable rapid recovery of collected or retained material into a small, analysis-ready sample suitable for downstream testing.

Because the Elution Fluid becomes part of the recovered sample, selecting the appropriate formulation can help support recovery performance, biological integrity, assay compatibility, and downstream analytical objectives.

Shop Elution Fluids

What Is an Elution Fluid?

An Elution Fluid is the recovery fluid used during the Wet Foam Elution™ process.

InnovaPrep Elution Fluids are supplied in pressurized canisters and are specifically formulated for use with AirPrep™ and FluidPrep™ systems. During recovery, the system combines air and Elution Fluid to generate a controlled foam that rapidly recovers material from a collection surface or concentration device.

Examples include:

  • AirPrep™ collection media
  • CP Select™ Concentration Tips
  • EasyElute™ LVC collection cartridges
  • Other Wet Foam Elution™ collection and concentration devices

The recovered eluate contains both the recovered material and the selected Elution Fluid.

Why Elution Fluid Selection Matters

Wet Foam Elution™ recovery performance depends on both the collection or concentration device and the Elution Fluid used during recovery.

The collection or concentration device determines what material is captured or retained. The Wet Foam Elution™ process and Elution Fluid determine how that material is recovered for downstream analysis.

As a result, Elution Fluid selection may influence:

  • Recovery efficiency
  • Target integrity
  • Viability or infectivity
  • Molecular assay compatibility
  • Cell and culture compatibility
  • Downstream analytical performance

Selecting the appropriate Elution Fluid helps optimize both sample recovery and downstream analysis.

Available Elution Fluids

Elution Fluid Comparison

Elution Fluid

Best For

Strengths

Tris

Molecular workflows

Strong molecular compatibility; useful for PCR, qPCR, sequencing, and extraction workflows

PBS

Culture, viability, infectivity, and general biological workflows

Gentle, isotonic, broad biological compatibility

PBS-X

Sensitive viral recovery and infectivity-focused workflows

Designed for enhanced recovery and gentle handling of sensitive viral targets

DMEM

Cell culture and direct-to-cell workflows

Cell-compatible medium; useful for fragile cells and direct inoculation

Custom formulation

Specialized applications

Can be developed for workflow-specific requirements

 

Which Elution Fluid Should I Choose?

For many molecular workflows, Tris is an effective starting point.

For workflows involving culture, viability, infectivity, or biological compatibility, PBS is often a preferred starting point.

For sensitive viral applications, PBS-X may be beneficial.

For cell culture or direct-to-cell workflows, DMEM may be appropriate.

Because every workflow is different, final selection should be evaluated with the intended downstream analytical method.

 

How many Elution Fluid canisters will I need?

The number of Elution Fluid canisters required depends on the platform, application, recovery protocol, and recovery volume used.

AirPrep™ Systems

For AirPrep™ Cub and AirPrep™ Bobcat workflows, Elution Fluid canisters are generally intended for single-use recovery of a single collection filter.

One canister is typically used per recovered filter.

EasyElute™ LVC

EasyElute™ LVC workflows generally utilize one Elution Fluid canister per collection cartridge.

For applications where maximizing recovery is important, users may perform multiple elutions using additional canisters on the same cartridge.

CP Select™

CP Select™ workflows use adjustable Elution Fluid volumes and therefore Elution Fluid consumption depends on the workflow being performed.

Elution Fluid may be used for:

  • Wet Foam Elution™ recovery only
  • Recovery combined with one or more Wash (backflush) steps
  • Custom protocols utilizing modified recovery volumes

As a general guideline, a CP Select™ Elution Fluid canister may support approximately 20–30 elutions. Actual usage depends on protocol settings, recovery volumes, wash steps, and application requirements.

For workflows utilizing custom protocols, frequent wash steps, or enhanced recovery procedures, additional Elution Fluid consumption should be expected.

If you are unsure how much Elution Fluid will be required for your workflow, contact InnovaPrep for guidance.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Elution Fluid become part of my sample?

Yes. The recovered eluate contains both the recovered material and the selected Elution Fluid. Compatibility with downstream analytical methods should therefore be considered during workflow development.

Can InnovaPrep provide custom Elution Fluids?

Custom formulations may be available for specialized workflows. Contact InnovaPrep to discuss your application requirements.

Can recovered samples be stored after elution?

Yes. Appropriate storage conditions depend on the target and downstream analytical method.

For additional guidance, see our Post-Collection Sample Storage Guidance for Molecular, Culture, and Environmental Workflows.

Are Safety Data Sheets available?

Yes. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are available for applicable Elution Fluids.

How are Elution Fluids supplied?

InnovaPrep Elution Fluids are supplied in pressurized canisters designed for use with AirPrep™ and FluidPrep™ systems utilizing Wet Foam Elution™ technology.

Available formulations include PBS, PBS-X, Tris, DMEM, and other workflow-specific options. Custom formulations may be available for specialized applications.

Can One Elution Fluid Support Molecular and Culture Workflows?

Many users use one Elution Fluid formulation for both molecular detection and culture-based analysis. 

Compatibility depends on:

  • Whether the eluate is diluted into culture media
  • Whether extraction removes salts, surfactants, or media components
  • Whether viability or infectivity is critical
  • Whether the downstream assay is sensitive to ionic strength, surfactants, pH, or media components

When downstream compatibility is uncertain, perform a small verification study before processing critical samples. Download the Selecting an Elution Fluid for AirPrep™ and FluidPrep™ Workflows (Detailed Guidance) 

Related Resources

Need Help Selecting an Elution Fluid?

Our team can help identify an appropriate starting point based on your target, matrix, and downstream analytical method.

Contact InnovaPrep – customerservice@innovaprep.com

 

 

 

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