About phosphate buffered saline solution
Phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solution is a commonly used buffer used in a variety of biological applications in order to maintain the pH of a solution. Since the osmolarity matches that of the human body, PBS is frequently used during cell model washing preparations whilst preventing cell lysis.
Download the recipe as a PDF
To download the PBS recipe as a PDF the click here.
1x phosphate buffered saline recipe
The recipe below can be used to prepare a 1 L 1x PBS solution.
| Reagent | Weight/Volume | Final concentration |
| Sodium chloride | 8.00 grams | 137 mM |
| Potassium chloride | 0.20 grams | 2.7 mM |
| Disodium phosphate (Na2HPO4) | 1.44 grams | 10 mM |
| Monopotassium phosphate (KH2PO4) | 0.24 grams | 1.8 mM |
| MilliQ water | Up to 1 L |
How to make a 1x PBS solution
- Weigh out 8.00 g sodium chloride, 0.20 g potassium chloride, 1.44 g disodium phosphate and 0.24 g monopotassium phosphate and add to a 1 L Duran bottle.
- Measure out 800 mL of MilliQ water and add to the Duran bottle.
- Dissolve the reagents by adding a magnetic flea into the bottle and placing on a magnetic stirrer.
- Adjust the pH to 7.4 with hydrochloric acid (HCl).
- Top up the solution to 1 L with MilliQ water.
- To sterilise, autoclave the solution on a liquid cycle (20 min at 15 psi).
Storage of 1x PBS solution
Store 1x PBS solution at room temperature (+15oC – +25oC).
Safety
PBS is not classified as hazardous. However, always be sure to read the safety data sheet before use.
