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Immunohistochemistry Resource Guide

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IHC Guide Cover v1

Counterstain/Substrate Compatibility Table

This table is designed as a reference to determine the optimal counterstain/substrate combination for your application. Considerations should be given to tissue type, antigen unmasking protocol and other detection parameters to achieve the desired staining intensity.

SubstrateCatalog NumberVector® Hematoxylin and Hematoxylin
QS H-3401 and H-3404
Vector® Methyl Green H-3402Vector® Nuclear Fast Red H-3403
ImmPACT® DAB EqVSK-4103Excellent ContrastExcellent ContrastFair Contrast
ImmPACT® DAB (brown)SK-4105Excellent ContrastExcellent ContrastFair Contrast
Vector® DAB (brown)SK-4100Excellent ContrastExcellent ContrastFair Contrast
Vector® DAB-Ni (gray-black)SK-4100Excellent ContrastFair Contrast *Good Contrast
ImmPACT® AEC (red)SK-4205Excellent ContrastCounterstain Incompatibility **Color Incompatibility
ImmPACT® AMEC Red (red)SK-4285Excellent ContrastCounterstain Incompatibility **Color Incompatibility
Vector® AEC (red)SK-4200Excellent ContrastCounterstain Incompatibility **Color Incompatibility
TMB (blue)SK-4400Color IncompatibilityCounterstain IncompatibilityExcellent Contrast
ImmPACT® VIP (purple)SK-4605Fair ContrastExcellent ContrastPoor Contrast
Vector® VIP (purple)SK-4600Fair ContrastExcellent ContrastPoor Contrast
ImmPACT® SG (blue-gray)SK-4705Poor ContrastGood ContrastExcellent Contrast
Vector® SG (blue-gray)SK-4700Poor ContrastGood ContrastExcellent Contrast
ImmPACT® NovaRED® (red)SK-4805Excellent ContrastExcellent Contrast ***Color Incompatibility
Vector® NovaRED® (red)SK-4800Excellent ContrastExcellent Contrast ***Color Incompatibility
ImmPACT® Vector® Red (magenta)SK-5105Excellent ContrastExcellent ContrastColor Incompatibility
Vector® Red (magenta)SK-5100Excellent ContrastExcellent ContrastColor Incompatibility
Vector® Black (black)SK-5200Excellent ContrastExcellent Contrast *Excellent Contrast
Vector® Blue (blue)SK-5300Color IncompatibilityGood ContrastExcellent Contrast
BCIP/NBT (indigo)SK-5400Color IncompatibilityExcellent Contrast *Excellent Contrast

* This substrate shows a slight decrease in sensitivity following the methyl green protocol. This decrease can be minimized by reducing the heat incubation and acetone rinse times in the methyl green protocol.
** Substrate dissolves in acetone wash.
*** A slight color change in ImmPACT NovaRED and Vector NovaRED reaction product may be seen using methyl green.

ProductMountantsCatalog Number
Vector® HematoxylinNon-aqueous and AqueousH-3401-500
Vector® Hematoxylin QSNon-aqueous and AqueousH-3404-100
Vector® Methyl GreenNon-aqueousH-3402-500
Vector® Nuclear Fast RedNon-aqueous and AqueousH-3403-500

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