Vector Laboratories’ mission is to empower scientific curiosity through a culture of service, reliable products, and unmatched technical expertise, allowing scientists and organizations to move science forward with impact.
Supporting scientific industries worldwide for over 45 years, Vector Laboratories is recognized as a pioneer and market leader in immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, glycobiology, and bioconjugation products. As the first company to commercialize avidin-biotin enzyme complex kits for immunohistochemistry and antifade mounting media for immunofluorescence, Vector Laboratories has since introduced over 600 reliable reagents and kits.
Products
- Mounting media (VECTASHIELD®)
- ABC Kits (VECTASTAIN®)
- Polymer Detection kits (ImmPRESS®)
- Histology reagents
- Antibodies
- Avidin and biotinylated reagents
- Blocking reagents
- Bioconjugation products
- Enzyme substrates
- Lectins and glycobiology reagents
VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Media
Maximum retention of signal intensity is crucial for visualizing and imaging fluorescently stained target antigens in cell and tissue specimens. VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media inhibit fading and photobleaching of most fluorophores, dyes, fluorescent proteins, and stains.
Antifade mounting media optimized for immunofluorescence applications
Choosing an effective mounting medium is especially important for immunofluorescence imaging. Fluorophores are susceptible to photobleaching and fading from the imaging excitation light, handling, and during storage.
VECTASHIELD is offered in setting and non-setting formulations with a choice of counterstain or no counterstain.
VECTASTAIN® ABC Kits (HRP)
- High sensitivity with low background — due to the form and number of active enzyme molecules associated with the avidin/biotinylated enzyme complex
- Versatility — detect any molecule that is biotinylated in a wide variety of applications and used in a number of tissue types and species
- Modularity — configure for compatibility with a large number of different primary antibodies and target species, and choose among a selection of detection enzymes
- Convenience and economy — use the avidin-biotin enzyme complexes for several days after preparation
High-sensitivity avidin-biotin kits with horseradish peroxidase-based detection
Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) substrates produce sharp, dense precipitates with crisp localization. In conjunction with the high sensitivity and low background of VECTASTAIN ABC systems, HRP-based detection systems are a preferred choice for many applications, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC), protein and nucleic acid blot, in situ hybridization (ISH), and enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) detection.
In addition to their inclusion of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme detection system and use of avidin / biotin technology, these low-cost kits are highly sensitive with low background signal. They can also be used as a second label in multiple antigen labeling applications. Choose from among three different kit formats:
- VECTASTAIN ELITE® ABC Kits — our most sensitive formulations, these kits offer a smaller and more uniform avidin-biotin complex for greater accessibility to biotinylated targets within tissue samples and are available in concentrated formats or as prediluted, ready-to-use (R.T.U.) formulations
- VECTASTAIN Original ABC Kits — our original and most economical formulation, these kits offers good sensitivity with low background
- VECTASTAIN Universal Quick Kits — our most rapid protocol, these kits offer a proprietary peroxidase-streptavidin pre-formed complex for outstanding sensitivity with short incubation times. These kits can be used to quickly detect primary antibodies made in mouse, rabbit, or goat, and are available in concentrated formats or in prediluted, ready-to-use (R.T.U.) formulations
VECTASTAIN ABC systems are widely popular and are a staple product for immunodetection. They are available with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzyme detection.
- The HRP kits produce sharp, dense precipitates with crisp localization and are a preferred choice for many applications
- The AP kits are ideal when working with tissues with high endogenous peroxidase activity
Both systems are available without (standard kit) or with biotinylated secondary antibodies.
ImmPRESS® Polymer Reagents for IHC
Integrated antibody and enzyme technology for high-sensitivity IHC detection
Polymer-based reagents are a more recent introduction into IHC detection methodology than traditional avidin and biotin conjugates, such as ABC kit formats. Polymers offer distinct advantages over these traditional methods particularly for applications such as multiple antigen labeling (multiplexing) on the same tissue section, or in instances where detectable levels of endogenous biotin may be problematic.
Polymer-based systems essentially consist of an integrated polymer of active enzyme and secondary antibody that binds to a primary antibody target. This integrated format introduces significantly more enzyme at the site of localization, thereby generating a greater reaction with the subsequent chromogen, as compared to the use of a secondary antibody directly conjugated with enzyme. Additionally, use of a one-step polymer method shortens the IHC procedure by avoiding the two-step biotinylated secondary antibody and ABC reagent step that is required for standard avidin-biotin systems.
ImmPRESS Polymer Detection Kits require little optimization and facilitate quick, efficient detection in cell- and tissue-based applications.
One-Step Detection
Species-specific polymer detection kits.
These kits enable selection for:
- Single antigen staining
- Sequential double staining
- Reducing/eliminating cross-reactivity issues
Two-Step Amplified Detection
Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) polymer reagent plus anti-mouse or anti-rabbit amplifier antibody for increased sensitivity.
These kits enable selection for:
- Unknown or low antigen expression
- Maximizing primary antibody dilution
- Convenience of complete kit format
Double Staining
HRP- and AP- anti-mouse and anti-rabbit polymer reagent cocktail for staining two antigens in a single step.
These kits enable selection for:
- Double antigen staining
- Streamlining and shortening a double labeling protocol
