There are several steps you can take to help prevent ConA bead clumping and precipitation.
Do NOT let ConA beads dry out. Avoid disturbing beads with pipette while on magnet.
Do NOT rotate or invert tubes. Rotation causes ConA beads to stick to tube sides and dry out, reducing yields. Use a nutator for incubations and elevate tube caps.
Note: If accidental inversion occurs, quick spin tubes immediately to collect material.
Be careful when pipetting very sticky beads, as they can stick to the inside of pipette tips and cause sample loss. In cases with excessive bead clumping, gently vortexing is preferred.
Start with high-quality cells, confirmed using our quality control checks. Increased cell lysis can cause ConA beads to become more clumpy, reducing yields.