I would avoid the bleach treatment on the probe, possibly a short alcohol incubation would be enough. The reasons for not being aggressive is because it would be unheard of a lentiviruses growing on the tip of an electrode. If lentiviruses can grow on an inert metallic surface then it would be a revolutionary finding worth publishing, possibly worth receiving a Nobel Prize. Because it's unlikely to happen, it's best just to focus on how to avoid cross-contamination and so a short incubation with a cleaning solution should be recommended by the probe manufacturer.

Hello,

I use the same apparatus and I sterilize the chopsticks with 70% ethanol solution for 5 min at the beginning of my experiment and then rinse them in PBS1X. To avoid cross-contamination between my different wells, I use the same process but only 30 seconds in ethanol solution. Don't forget at the end of your experiments to rinse chopsticks with milliQ water.

Hi Frances,

You have received lots of good advice in the previous posts. I think 24 hrs submersion of Ag/AgCl electrodes in bleach will eventually cause the electrode to become brittle and crumble.

However, 5 minutes of a Ag/AgCl electrode in Clorox is a good way to ensure a good surface coating of AgCl.

MacG