Excel Scientific AlumaSeal® CS™ FCS-25 Aluminum Foil Microplate Seal for Cold Storage, Sterile — 50/Pack

The Excel Scientific AlumaSeal® CS™ FCS-25 is the sterile version of the AlumaSeal® CS™ aluminum foil microplate sealing film — a specially formulated cold storage foil seal rated to -80°C and below, now available in a sterile format for clinical, viral, and regulated cold storage workflows where biological contamination of the sealing material cannot be tolerated. AlumaSeal® CS sealing films are specially formulated aluminum foil sealing films with an adhesive that withstands cold storage at temperatures to -80°C. The film has excellent barrier properties to retard evaporation. These films, easily pierceable with pipet tips or robotic probes, have a recommended temperature range of -80°C to +120°C. Certified DNase-free, RNase-free, and nucleic acid-free. Dimensions: 82.6 × 132.6 mm including single 9.5mm end tab. 50 foil seals per pack, packaged in sterile bags.

⚠️ Important — Cold Storage Only. Not for PCR or Thermocycling. The AlumaSeal® CS™ FCS-25 is engineered specifically and exclusively for cold storage applications. Unlike the AlumaSeal® II (AF-100) which supports both PCR and cold storage, the FCS-25's adhesive is optimized for ultra-low temperature performance — not thermal cycling. For PCR-compatible aluminum foil sealing, the AlumaSeal® II (AF-100) is the appropriate choice.

Sterile Format — For Clinical, Viral, and Regulated Cold Storage The FCS-25 is the sterile version of the AlumaSeal® CS™ line — the correct choice for any cold storage workflow where biological sterility of the sealing material is required. Applications that specifically require the sterile FCS-25 over the non-sterile FC-100 include clinical biobank and biorepository sample storage, infectious disease and viral sample cold storage, clinical diagnostic specimen management, regulated GMP/GLP compound storage requiring sterile consumables, and any aseptic cold storage environment where non-sterile foil seals cannot be used in direct contact with sealed plate contents.

FCS-25 vs. FC-100 — Choosing the Right AlumaSeal® CS™ Format:

Specially Formulated for -80°C and Below The FCS-25 features a 50µm aluminum foil construction with a 50µm acrylic adhesive specially formulated to maintain a reliable, secure bond at ultra-low temperatures — where standard adhesive seals become brittle, lose adhesion, or fail entirely. This cold-formulated adhesive is the critical distinction between the AlumaSeal® CS™ and standard aluminum foil seals not rated for -80°C storage.

Excellent Barrier Properties — Superior to Plastic Film Seals Aluminum foil provides fundamentally superior barrier properties compared to plastic film seals — blocking vapor transmission, light, and atmospheric gases more completely than any polymer alternative. For long-term clinical biobank and compound library storage at -80°C where sample volume loss, freeze-concentration, or photodegradation are concerns, the aluminum foil construction delivers a more complete barrier than plastic film alternatives.

Easily Pierceable — Robotic Probe and Pipette Tip Compatible The 50µm aluminum foil is thin enough to be pierced cleanly by standard pipette tips and robotic liquid handling probes — allowing direct well access for sample retrieval without removing the seal. This is essential for sterile clinical sample management and regulated compound management workflows where robotic probes must access individual wells without fully breaking the plate seal.

Single Non-Perforated End Tab — Simplified Application Without Curling A single non-perforated end tab simplifies application and prevents foil curling during placement. Simply hold the tab and strip the backing from the body of the sealing film as it lays on the plate. A plate sealing roller is recommended to ensure a secure, uniform seal around all wells — particularly important for 384-well and 1536-well plates.

Compatible Replacement — Cross-Reference Guide

The AlumaSeal® CS™ FCS-25 is a direct compatible replacement for sterile cold storage aluminum foil seals from several major manufacturers. Labs currently using any of the following products can switch directly to the FCS-25 without protocol changes:

• Thermo Fisher Scientific AB-0626S — ABgene® Thermo-Seal Foil, sterile format, cold storage
• 4titude® 4ti-0536/S — Heat Sealing Foil for Cold Storage, sterile format
• Axygen® PCR-AS-200-S — Aluminum foil cold storage seal, sterile format
• Bio-Rad MSF1001 — Microseal® 'F' Foil, sterile cold storage format

Competitor brand names and catalog numbers are referenced for cross-referencing purposes only. Compatibility should be verified for your specific plates and protocols.

Key Features

• Sterile aluminum foil seal — for clinical, viral, and regulated cold storage
• Specially formulated for cold storage at -80°C and below
• ⚠️ Not for PCR or thermocycling — cold storage only
• 50µm aluminum foil — superior barrier vs. plastic film seals
• 50µm cold-formulated acrylic adhesive — maintains bond at ultra-low temperatures
• Complete light exclusion — opaque aluminum construction
• Excellent barrier properties — retards evaporation, blocks light and gas
• Easily pierceable — pipette tips and robotic probes
• Single non-perforated end tab — simplified peel-as-you-lay application
• Plate sealing roller recommended for uniform well coverage
• Certified DNase-free, RNase-free, and nucleic acid-free
• Sterile — packaged in sterile bags of 50
• Dimensions: 82.6 × 132.6 mm (including 9.5mm end tab)
• Film thickness: 50µm / Adhesive thickness: 50µm
• Temperature range: -80°C to +120°C
• Shelf life: 36 months
• 50 foil seals per pack

Supported Applications Sterile clinical biobank and biorepository sample storage at -80°C, infectious disease and viral sample cold storage, clinical diagnostic specimen management in microplate format, regulated GMP/GLP compound library storage, sterile automated compound management with robotic probe access, long-term DNA/RNA/protein sample storage requiring sterile sealing, and any sterile microplate cold storage application requiring reliable aluminum foil sealing at -80°C or below.

Technical Specifications