The process of staining and lysis is quite simple. The key element of this protocol is the sequential staining. Following treatment, the cells are carried through a staining scheme that first labels dead and dying cells and then simultaneously lyses and labels nuclear material.

This dual-label approach overcomes the significant challenge of distinguishing micronuclei from spurious events, especially apoptotic bodies. Once prepared in this fashion, samples may be quickly analyzed via flow cytometry.