Citifluor Ltd.

What Citifluor Ltd. does

Citifluor Ltd. develops and manufactures specialist antifadent (anti-bleaching) mounting media designed to minimize photobleaching of fluorescent probes used in fluorescence microscopy. Founded in 1982 as an independent UK-based specialist and acquired by Electron Microscopy Sciences in January 2017, the company now operates as a Division of EMS with manufacturing at the EMS chemical plant in Hatfield, PA, and additional facility data referencing 701 Hemlock Rd, Morgantown, PA 19543. Its portfolio spans non-hardening antifadents (AF1, AF2, AF3, AF4, AFR3), glycerol-based high-refractive-index mountants (CFM-1, CFM-2, CFM-3, CFMR2) matched to glass (RI ~1.52), hardening antifadent systems (AF100, AF200, AF300, CFPVOH, CFPAF, MWL 4-88, PVP1, PVPAF), and the AF87 immersion oil. The flagship AF1 is a glycerol-PBS formulation with amine antifadent, compatible with FITC, DAPI, rhodamines, Hoechst, Alexa, cyanine dyes, Texas Red, phycoerythrins, and GFP.

The underlying technology is small-molecule antifade chemistry combined with refractive-index engineering: the CFM-series enables visualization at depths up to 160µm within samples and, per the company, no other commercially available mountant matches this capability. CFMR2 is a GFP-specific formulation whose antifadent does not de-oxygenate the solution, preserving GFP fluorescence. All solutions are prepared by qualified (Chartered) chemists in the United States under consistent quality protocols, with a 6–12 month shelf life at room temperature.

Citifluor serves research institutions, universities, medical centers, pathology laboratories, and forensic laboratories worldwide. It is classified as a woman-owned small business. Distribution is a hybrid model: a network of 40+ authorized distributors covering all major geographies, plus direct-to-customer ordering (phone, fax, mail, email, online shop) with 24-hour shipping and credit-card payment options. Unit pricing ranges from $8 (AF100-5, 5ml) to $94 (AF1-100, 100ml and equivalent AF2/AF3 100ml sizes), with bulk discounts for standing orders from high-volume pathology accounts. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company has no disclosed funding rounds and has never been IPO'd.

Name

Citifluor Ltd.

Legal name

Citifluor Ltd.

Website

https://citifluor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Citifluor Ltd. develops and manufactures specialist antifadent mounting media that minimize photobleaching of fluorescent probes in fluorescence microscopy, serving research institutions, pathology laboratories, universities, and forensic laboratories worldwide through distributors and direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Microscopy Reagents

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Lab Safety, PPE & Contamination Control (Hoods, Biosafety Cabinets, Clean Air) (HLAGAIAK)

Keywords

• Fluorescence microscopy reagents
• Antifadent mounting media
• Laboratory chemical reagents
• Immunofluorescence consumables
• Biological specimen preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Antifadent Product Sales: Sale of specialized chemical mounting media solutions for fluorescence microscopy. Products sold in various pack sizes (5ml to 100ml) at price points ranging from $8.00 to $94.00 per unit. Revenue generated through direct sales and distributor network worldwide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Citifluor Ltd. develops and manufactures specialist antifadent (anti-bleaching) mounting media solutions used in fluorescence microscopy to minimize the photobleaching of fluorochromes and fluorescent dyes used for labelling biological specimens. The product range includes non-hardening antifadents, high refractive index mountants, immersion oils, and hardening antifadent systems formulated for immunofluorescence, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), total internal reflection microscopy (TIRF), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. All solutions are prepared by qualified Chartered chemists and manufactured in the USA.

Product overview

Citifluor Ltd., a Division of Electron Microscopy Sciences, produces a comprehensive range of specialist antifadent (antibleaching) mountant solutions for fluorescence microscopy. The product portfolio includes non-hardening mountants (AF1, AF1 Plus DAPI, AF2, AF3, AF4, AFR3) and glycerol-based high refractive index solutions (CFM-1, CFM-1 Plus Antifadent, CFM-2, CFM-3, CFMR2), glycerol-free solutions (AF87 immersion oil, CFPVOH, AF100), and hardening mountant systems (PVP1, PVPAF, MWL 4-88, CFPVOH + AF100/AF200/AF300 combinations). These products reduce photobleaching of fluorochromes used in immunofluorescence, CLSM, TIRF, and FISH techniques. Founded in 1982, the company has over 25 years of experience producing high-quality anti-bleaching agents for hospitals, research institutes, path labs, universities, medical centres, and forensic labs worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AF1 Mountant Solution A glycerol-PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) solution containing an amine antifadent, specifically designed to alleviate photobleaching of antibodies labelled with FITC and other fluorochromes (DAPI, rhodamines, Hoechst, Alexa, cyanine dyes, Texas Red, phycoerythrins, GFP). The most frequently used Citifluor solution for tissue sections and dead-cell imaging. Available in 25ml ($34.00) and 100ml ($94.00) sizes.
• AF1 Plus DAPI AF1 mountant solution with DAPI added at a concentration of 2µg per ml, designed for FISH technique applications. Supplied in 15ml brown glass bottles, stored refrigerated at 0-5°C. Targeted at researchers performing fluorescence in situ hybridization.
• AF2 Mountant Solution A glycerol solution containing an amine antifadent that allows users to choose their own buffer solution. Specifically designed to stop photobleaching of FITC-labelled specimens. Ideal for tissue sections and dead cells. Available in 25ml ($34.00) and 100ml ($94.00) sizes.
• AF3 Mountant Solution A PBS (phosphate-buffered saline) solution containing an antifadent, specifically designed to alleviate photobleaching of FITC-labelled specimens. Particularly useful for examining live cells. Low refractive index makes it ideal for Total Internal Reflectance Spectroscopy (TIRF). Available in 25ml ($34.00) and 100ml ($94.00) sizes.
• AF4 Mountant Solution A solution of n-propyl gallate dissolved in glycerol, useful for retarding photobleaching. Particularly recommended when DAPI is the fluorochrome. Optically transparent between 400nm and 750nm. Available in 25ml ($34.00) size.
• AF87 Immersion Oil An immersion oil of low fluorescence containing an antifadent with a refractive index of ~1.52 at room temperature. Immiscible with water, requires specimen dehydration before application. Ideal for confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and FISH technique. Available in 10ml ($29.00) and 25ml ($51.00) sizes.
• AFR3 Live Cell Solution A new antifadent solution for use with live cells. Contains an antifadent at much lower concentration than other solutions, designed to show minimal phototoxicity. Does not de-oxygenate the solution. Refractive index of 1.34, ideal for Total Internal Reflectance Microscopy (TIRFM). Available in 10ml ($54.00) size.
• CFM-1 Mountant Solution A glycerol-phosphate buffered saline based solution with refractive index of ~1.52 at room temperature. Medium viscosity, water-white appearance, pH ~7.5. Can be used for conventional transmission microscopy as well as fluorescence microscopy. Available in 10ml ($27.00) and 25ml ($47.00) sizes.
• CFM-1 Plus Antifadent A glycerol-phosphate buffered saline based mountant solution with refractive index of ~1.52 and containing an antifadent to retard bleaching of fluorochromes. Medium viscosity, water-white appearance, pH ~9. Available in 10ml ($28.00) and 25ml ($53.00) sizes.
• CFM-2 Mountant Solution A glycerol-tris-amine buffered mountant solution with refractive index of ~1.52 at room temperature. pH ~8.5, appropriate for fluorescein conjugates. High refractive index helps minimize spherical aberration in CLSM. Available in 10ml ($27.00) and 25ml ($47.00) sizes.
• CFM-3 Mountant Solution A glycerol-based mountant solution with refractive index of ~1.52 containing a phenolic type antifadent. pH ~6.5, medium viscosity. Acts as a clearing solution enabling visualization of fluorochromes deep within samples. Useful for DAPI, Alexa, Hoechst, and cyanine dyes. Available in 10ml ($29.00) and 25ml ($52.00) sizes.
• CFMR2 Mountant Solution A high refractive index mountant especially designed for samples labelled with GFP. Contains a unique antifadent that does not de-oxygenate solution, which is essential for GFP retention. Enables good depth of viewing within samples. Available in 10ml ($43.00) size.
• AF100 Photofade Reagent A PBS solution of an amine-based antifadent. Designed for use with CFPVOH or MWL 4-88 polymer solutions to provide antifadent properties in hardening mountant systems. Available in 5ml ($8.00) size.
• AF200 Photofade Reagent A glycerol solution containing a non-basic (phenolic) antifadent with relatively high viscosity. Designed for use with DAPI, Cy, and Hoechst dyes. Used in two-pack hardening mountant systems. Available in 10ml ($34.00) size.
• AF300 Photofade Reagent A glycerol solution of an amine-based antifadent with relatively high viscosity. Compatible with a wide range of fluorochromes. Used in two-pack hardening mountant systems. Available in 10ml ($34.00) size.
• CFPVOH Hardening Mountant An aqueous solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) containing a small amount of sodium azide to prevent microbial growth. Used with AF200 or AF300 for hardening mountant systems. Films of medium hardness are produced after water evaporation. Available in 25ml ($34.00) size.
• CFPAF (CFPVOH Plus Antifadent) An aqueous solution of a special grade of poly(vinyl alcohol) containing an antifadent. Medium viscosity, pH ~8.5, contains sodium azide to prevent microbial growth. Shelf life of 6 months at room temperature. Available in 25ml ($38.00) size.
• MWL 4-88 Hardening Mountant A classical, popular mountant based on Mowiol 4-88, containing polymer, glycerol, and tris-amine buffer. pH ~8.5. Can be used as hardening mountant on its own or with AF200 or AF300 for antifadent properties. Available in 25ml ($34.00) size.
• PVP1 Hardening Mountant An aqueous poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) solution containing an amine-based antifadent. Relatively low viscosity, slight yellow colour, pH ~9.5. Very stable with shelf life in excess of five years. Dry films have high refractive index. Available in 25ml ($34.00) size.
• PVPAF Hardening Mountant Aqueous solution of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) containing an amine-based antifadent. Stable over long periods (excess of five years). Produces films possessing some antifadent properties with high refractive index. Available in 25ml ($38.00) size.

Quantifiable outcome

• Visualization depth up to 160µm with high refractive index mountants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Electron Microscopy SciencescoreOthersElectron Microscopy Sciences acquired Citifluor Ltd. in January 2017 and now produces the product line at their chemical plant in Hatfield, PA. The products continue to be sold under the Citifluor name. Citifluor operates as a Division of Electron Microscopy Sciences.
• ProSciTech (Australia)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in Australia
• Cedarlane (Canada)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in Canada
• Hede Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in China
• Allied Scientific Products (India)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in India with multiple office locations
• Kokusai Kinzoku Yakuhin Co. (Japan)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in Japan
• CN Technical Services, Ltd. (UK)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in UK
• EM Japan Co., Ltd.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in Japan
• Biovalley (France)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in France
• Science Services GmbH (Germany/Austria)regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuthorized distributor for Citifluor antifadent products in Germany and Austria

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Agilent Technologies: Agilent's Cell Analysis and Diagnostics businesses provide reagents and staining kits used in fluorescence and confocal microscopy applications, serving overlapping academic and clinical research end customers.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Through its Life Sciences Solutions and Specialty Diagnostics segments, Thermo Fisher offers ProLong and SlowFade antifade mountants and a broad portfolio of fluorescent reagents, competing with Citifluor across the same research and pathology end markets.
• Leica Biosystems: Leica Biosystems offers histology and pathology consumables including mounting media and staining reagents used in fluorescence microscopy workflows comparable to Citifluor's pathology customer use case.
• Electron Microscopy Sciences: EMS is the parent company of Citifluor and a broader specialty supplier of microscopy and histology consumables, embedding, fixatives, and sectioning reagents. It is comparable as the operating platform behind Citifluor and as a broader supplier to the same lab customer base.
• MilliporeSigma (Sigma-Aldrich): MilliporeSigma distributes a wide catalog of fluorescence microscopy reagents, mountants, and biological stains, serving the same academic and clinical research customers as Citifluor but across a much broader product portfolio.
• Cytiva (formerly GE Life Sciences): Cytiva supplies lab reagents and consumables to life science researchers, with overlap in cell biology and microscopy applications where Citifluor's antifadent products are consumed.

Emerging players

• Abcam: Abcam supplies primary antibodies and matched secondary reagents for immunofluorescence workflows that consume Citifluor mountants. While not a direct mountant competitor, Abcam increasingly bundles reagents and imaging consumables in research kits, creating adjacent competitive pressure.

Direct peers

• Vector Laboratories: Vector Laboratories produces VECTASHIELD antifade mounting media and other immunohistochemistry reagents, competing head-to-head with Citifluor's AF-series mountants in immunofluorescence and pathology lab workflows.
• Biotium: Biotium develops fluorescent dyes, antibody conjugates, and antifade mounting media (e.g., EverBrite) used in the same fluorescence microscopy workflows as Citifluor's AF1 and CFM series. It is the most direct competitor in commercial antifadent and fluorescence reagent consumables.

Others

• Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Zeiss manufactures fluorescence microscopes and imaging platforms whose users are core consumers of Citifluor's mountants. While not a direct consumables competitor, Zeiss's vertically integrated reagent and software offerings represent an indirect channel-competition risk.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Citifluor Ltd.