Far-red dye probe formulations

A kit comprising:

• (a) a first sealed container containing a lyophilized far-red dye probe formulation, wherein the lyophilized far-red dye probe formulation comprises
• a far-red dye probe comprising a far-red dye conjugated to a carrier molecule, wherein the far-red dye is a far-red cyanine dye and the carrier molecule is an RNA;
• a non-linear surfactant;
• and
• at least one buffering agent;
• and
• (b) a second sealed container containing a diluent, wherein the diluent comprises the non-linear surfactant at a concentration of from 1% (v/v) to about 5% (v/v);
• wherein the non-linear surfactant is present in the lyophilized far-red dye probe formulation and the diluent at concentrations configured to produce, upon reconstitution of the lyophilized formulation in the diluent, a final non-linear surfactant concentration of from about 1% (v/v) to about 10% (v/v).