Vector LaboratoriesVector Laboratories offers you a comprehensive range of kits and reagents for every step in your IHC workflow or IF workflow, including useful histology reagents to complement and optimize your immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC), and immunofluorescence (IF) experiments.

 

 

Vector Blocking Reagents

Blocking solutions can prevent background interference from different sources, including autofluorescence, endogenous enzyme activity, Fc receptors, or interactions of detection reagents with tissue/cell proteins and other macromolecules.

Vector Laboratories offers blocking solutions for a variety of applications, as shown below. To determine which blocking solution may be best for you, run series of negative controls.

 

 

 

Protein Blocking Solutions

Non-specific protein interactions between detection reagents and target protein elements can cause unwanted background staining. To minimize this type of interaction, use an appropriate protein blocking reagent:

  • Normal sera — widely used as a general protein block in tissue and cell-based staining. For best results, choose a serum species for blocking that matches the species of the secondary antibody.
  • Carbo-Free Blocking Solution (VEC-SP-5040) - for lectin staining or use in multiplex IHC applications. Lectins are used for at least one label because this solution does not contain interfering glycoproteins.
  • BSA (VEC-SP-5050) — Our BSA is free of the glycoproteins and impurities that are present in other grades of BSA and can introduce artifacts or increase background staining. For use in IHC, iCC, IF, blots, and ELISA applications.
  • Animal-Free Blocker, 5x Concentrate (VEC-SP-5030) is a plant-derived agent and diluent for immunohistochemistry, nucleic acid and protein blotting, and other applications. It contains no animal-derived protein and can be used as an alternative to sera, BSA, casein, or non-fat dry milk.
  • R.T.U. Animal-Free Block and Diluent (VEC-SP-5035) — plant-protein derived universal antibody diluent and protein blocking reagent for use in multiplex IHC applications where primary or secondary antibodies from multiple species are used. This solution does not contain animal immunoglobulins, which may be non-specifically bound by the secondary antibodies.

 

 

Autofluorescence Quencher

Reveal true immunofluorescence — even in the most challenging tissues! 

In tissue sections, autofluorescence is the unwanted fluorescence that can make it difficult or impossible to distinguish antigen-specific signal from non-specific background noise. Vector TrueVIEW® Autofluorescence Quenching Kit provides a novel way to diminish unwanted autofluorescence from non-lipofuscin sources and dramatically improve signal-to-noise ratio.

Use TrueVIEW if you need an autofluorescence blocking agent that:

  • Specifically reduces autofluorescence from non-lipofuscin sources
  • Is easy to use
  • Is compatible with a wide selection of fluorophores
  • Is compatible with standard epifluorescence and confocal laser microscopes

>> Vector TrueView (VEC-SP-8400)

>> Vector TrueView with DAPI (VEC-SP-8500)

 

 

Western Blot Blocking Solutions

In dot blot or western blot application, blocking solutions minimize the non-specific binding of detection antibodies to the membrane that lead to background.

Vector Laboratories offers two solutions formulated to block membranes in blotting applications:

  • WestVision™ Block and Diluent (VEC-SP-7000) — a proprietary, ready-to-use formulation containing Tween 20 that improves signal intensity and resolution without increasing background. It is compatible with both alkaline phosphatase- and peroxidase- based detections systems, and with both chemiluminescence and chromogenic development.
  • Animal-Free Blocker™ (VEC-SP-5030) — a plant-derived universal antibody diluent and blocking reagent for nucleic acid and protein blotting, IHC, and for other applications. It contains no animal-derived protein and can be used as an alternative to sera, BSA, casein, or non-fat dry milk.

 

 

Mouse IgG Blocking Reagent

The M.O.M.™ Mouse Ig Blocking Reagent (VEC-MKB-2213) is a component in the Vector® Mouse on Mouse (M.O.M.™) kits and for optimal results these reagents should be used in combination.

Features of the M.O.M. Immunodetection system:

  • Significant reduction of endogenous mouse Ig staining when using mouse primary antibodies on mouse tissue
  • Clear, crisp specific staining of antigens of interest
  • Based on VECTASTAIN® ABC or ImmPRESS® reagent protocols
  • Procedures are simple and easy to follow
  • No tedious calculations or antibody prebinding steps required

 

 

Endogenous Biotin Blocking Kits

Avidin/Biotin Blocking (VEC-SP-2001) and Streptavidin/Biotin Blocking Kits (VEC-SP-2002) bind and block all endogenous biotin, biotin receptors and (strept)avidin binding sites in tissue specimens to prevent subsequent interaction with (strept)avidin/biotin based detection systems.

 

 

Enzyme Blocking Reagents

Eliminate background interference from endogenous peroxidase, pseudoperoxidase, and/or alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity in tissue specimens with effective, ready-to-use solutions. 

BLOXALL Endogenous Peroxidase and Alkaline Phosphatase Blocking Solution (VEC-SP-6000) is a dual enzyme blocking reagent that inactivates endogenous peroxidase, pseudoperoxidase, and alkaline phosphatase in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections, frozen tissue sections, and cell preparations.

Levamisole Solution (VEC-SP-5000), a competitive inhibitor of alkaline phosphatase, is provided in a convenient dropper bottle and can be added to the alkaline phosphatase substrate solution. Tissues can contain endogenous alkaline phosphatase activity that will produce background staining if an alkaline phosphatase detection system and substrate are used.