Polysil

What Polysil does

Polysil, operating under its legal name AffiGEN Inc., is a privately held laboratory reagent supplier that sells ready-to-use assay kits and buffer products directly to life science researchers through a B2B e-commerce storefront at affistain.com. The company markets its portfolio under two sub-brands: AffiSTAIN, which covers cell staining kits for apoptosis detection, cell viability, senescence, lipid accumulation, enzyme activity, and transcription factor analysis, and AffiBIOTECH, which provides basic laboratory reagents such as RIPA Lysis Buffer. The product line targets academic research institutions, university laboratories, and private research organizations conducting cell biology, biochemistry, and molecular biology studies.{ADDITIONAL DETAIL}

The core technology is laboratory reagent formulation: standardized, ready-to-use staining kits that eliminate in-lab reagent preparation and reduce variability across experiments. The catalog covers apoptosis detection (Active Caspase-3, Active Caspase-9, Annexin V-FITC/PI), cell viability and cytotoxicity (Live vs. Dead, Lysosomal Cytotoxicity), senescence (Beta-galactosidase), general histology (Hematoxylin-Eosin), lipid staining (Oil Red O), enzyme activity (Alkaline Phosphatase), transcription factor analysis (FoxP3), and protein extraction (RIPA Lysis Buffer 5X). Products are sold in standardized catalog sizes (25-well, 50-well, 96-well, 96-tests, 100-well, 500 mL) with each SKU carrying an AFG-series catalog number.

The commercial model is transaction-based B2B e-commerce with no subscription component. Unit pricing ranges from $67.00 (RIPA Lysis Buffer 500 mL) to $532.25 (Active Caspase-9 Staining Kit, 100-well), with most kits priced between $195 and $525. The company sells directly through its own storefront — with shopping cart, wishlist, and a phone support line (800-660-1620) — and is described as serving a single-country/domestic market. There is no evidence of third-party distributors, OEM partnerships, enterprise contracts, or recurring revenue. The company holds three registered trademarks (AffiSTAIN, AffiBIOTECH, AffiGEN), but no patents, certifications, leadership team information, headcount, funding history, or M&A activity are disclosed in the source data.

Name

Polysil

Legal name

AffiGEN Inc.

Website

https://polycil.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Polysil (AffiGEN Inc.) is a privately held laboratory reagent supplier selling ready-to-use cell biology assay kits and buffers under the AffiSTAIN and AffiBIOTECH sub-brands via direct B2B e-commerce to academic and research laboratories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Reagents

NAICS

In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAGAIAI

Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Laboratory Equipment, Instruments & Consumables

SECONDARYHLAGADAH

Cell-Based & Potency Assays (Bioassays)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services

Keywords

• Laboratory reagents
• Cell staining kits
• Apoptosis detection kits
• Protein extraction buffers
• Cell biology assays

Headquarters

HQ city

Hoylake

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Product Sales: Direct sales of laboratory reagent kits and buffers through e-commerce platform. Products are sold in standard catalog sizes (25-well, 100-well, 96-tests) with per-unit pricing. Revenue is transaction-based with no subscription component.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Polysil, operating under the AffiGEN Inc. legal entity and the AffiSTAIN consumer-facing brand, manufactures and directly sells ready-to-use laboratory reagent kits and assay buffers for cell biology research. The product line covers apoptosis detection (Caspase-3, Caspase-9, Annexin V-FITC/PI), cell viability and cytotoxicity assays (Live vs. Dead, Lysosomal Cytotoxicity), senescence detection (Beta-galactosidase), lipid accumulation (Oil Red O), enzyme activity staining (Alkaline Phosphatase), histological staining (Hematoxylin-Eosin), and supporting buffers (RIPA Lysis Buffer 5X). Products are sold via the company's own e-commerce platform with per-unit catalog pricing and direct shipment to research laboratories.

Product overview

AffiGEN Inc. offers a unified portfolio of laboratory reagents and assays under two sub-brands: AffiSTAIN and AffiBIOTECH. The AffiSTAIN line comprises cell staining kits for apoptosis detection (caspase-3, caspase-9, Annexin V-FITC/PI), cellular function assays (beta-galactosidase, alkaline phosphatase, senescence), histological stains (hematoxylin-eosin, Oil Red O), and specialized kits (lysosomal cytotoxicity, live/dead cell differentiation, starch content, FoxP3 transcription factor). The AffiBIOTECH line provides lysis and buffer solutions such as RIPA Lysis Buffer. Products are sold with catalog numbers and available in various sizes/formats for different throughput needs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AffiSTAIN: Brand of staining kits for apoptosis detection, cell viability, senescence, lipid staining, enzyme activity assays, and transcription factor detection.
• AffiBIOTECH

Products and services

• AffiSTAIN Active Caspase-9 Staining Kit Laboratory staining kit for detecting active caspase-9 in cells, used by researchers in apoptosis studies. Available in 25-well and 100-well sizes (CAT# AFG-BV-0766 / AFG-BV-0767).
• AffiSTAIN Lysosomal Cytotoxicity Dual Staining Kit Dual staining kit for detecting lysosomal cytotoxicity in cells, designed for 50-well applications (CAT# AFG-BV-0765).
• AffiSTAIN Annexin V-FITC/PI Double Staining Apoptosis Detection Kit Apoptosis detection kit using Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide double staining methodology, providing 96 tests per kit (CAT# AFG-EK-147).
• AffiSTAIN STARCH Content Kit Kit for measuring starch content in samples, providing 96 tests per kit (CAT# AFG-EK-146).
• AffiSTAIN Hematoxylin-Eosin Stain Kit Standard hematoxylin-eosin staining kit for histological examination and tissue analysis, providing 96 tests per kit (CAT# AFG-EK-143).
• AffiBIOTECH RIPA Lysis Buffer (5X) Concentrated (5X) RIPA lysis buffer for cell lysis and protein extraction applications, supplied in 500 mL bottles (CAT# AFG-TPB-49).
• AffiSTAIN Oil Red O Lipid Staining Kit Lipid staining kit using Oil Red O dye, sufficient to stain two plates (6-, 12-, 24-, or 96-well) or five 100 mm culture dishes (CAT# AFG-BV-0760).
• AffiSTAIN Live vs. Dead Cell Differentiation Staining Kit Staining kit for differentiating between live and dead cells, designed for use across four 24-well plates (CAT# AFG-BV-0762).
• AffiSTAIN Beta-galactosidase Staining Kit Staining kit for beta-galactosidase enzyme activity detection, sufficient for 20x 12-well plates or equivalent volume in 6- or 24-well formats (CAT# AFG-BV-0763).
• AffiSTAIN Alkaline Phosphatase Staining Kit Alkaline phosphatase staining kit compatible with 96-, 48-, 24-, 12-, and 6-well plate formats (CAT# AFG-BV-0764).
• AffiSTAIN Senescence Staining Assay Assay kit for detecting cellular senescence, suitable for 24-, 12-, or 6-well plate formats (CAT# AFG-BV-0761).
• AffiSTAIN FoxP3 Transcription Factor Fixation and Permeabilization Kit Fixation and permeabilization kit specifically designed for FoxP3 transcription factor detection in flow cytometry / immunostaining workflows, providing 100 tests (CAT# AFG-BTC-0005).
• AffiSTAIN Active Caspase-3 Staining Kit Staining kit for detecting active caspase-3 in apoptosis studies, available in 25-well and 100-well sizes (CAT# AFG-BV-0771 / AFG-BV-0775).

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Broad incumbent — diversified life-science tools company offering cell biology assay kits, protein preparation reagents (including lysis buffers competing with AffiBIOTECH RIPA), and staining products.
• Sigma-Aldrich (MilliporeSigma): Broad incumbent — the largest generalist reagent supplier, offering RIPA lysis buffer, H&E stain, Oil Red O, and apoptosis-related reagents that bracket AffiGEN's entire catalog across a global commercial network.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Broad incumbent — owns Invitrogen, Molecular Probes, and Pierce brands offering apoptosis (e.g., Annexin V), H&E, Oil Red O, and cell viability kits; competes with AffiGEN as part of a much larger life-science portfolio.

Direct peers

• Promega Corporation: Direct peer — manufactures cell-based apoptosis, viability, and cytotoxicity assay kits sold to academic and pharma researchers, directly competitive with AffiSTAIN's core use cases.
• Cell Signaling Technology: Direct peer — a leading manufacturer of antibodies and assay kits for cell biology research, including apoptosis (Caspase-3/-9), cell viability, and senescence assays that directly overlap with the AffiSTAIN catalog.
• Cayman Chemical: Direct peer — supplies biochemical assay kits and staining reagents (including apoptosis, oxidative stress, and enzyme activity assays) with comparable catalog structure to AffiSTAIN/AffiBIOTECH.
• Bio-Techne (R&D Systems): Direct peer — offers TUNEL apoptosis kits, cell viability assays, and senescence staining reagents through its R&D Systems brand, competing on identical assay endpoints with AffiGEN.
• Enzo Life Sciences: Direct peer — specialty manufacturer of apoptosis detection kits (Annexin V, Caspase), cytotoxicity assays, and cell-based staining reagents targeting the same end-users as AffiSTAIN.
• Santa Cruz Biotechnology: Direct peer — broad-line reagent supplier whose antibodies, apoptosis kits, and staining reagents overlap substantially with AffiGEN's cell-biology assay portfolio.
• Abcam: Direct peer — major life-science reagent vendor whose apoptosis, viability, and immunohistochemistry kits directly compete with AffiSTAIN's assay portfolio for the same academic and biotech researcher customers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/polysilUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/polysil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Polysil