Immunohistochemistry
High-performance IHC reagents for accurate, reproducible staining
What is Immunohistochemistry (IHC)?
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a powerful technique widely used in research, clinical diagnostics, drug discovery, and translational medicine to visualize the localization, distribution and abundance of biomolecules within preserved tissue samples.
By leveraging the specificity and sensitivity of antibodies, IHC provides valuable insights into protein expression, cellular processes, and tissue architectures under various physiological and pathological conditions. Its ability to preserve tissue structure enables the study of biomolecules in situ, offering a unique perspective on intercellular interactions and spatial dynamics. With applications ranging from disease diagnosis to drug development, IHC is an indispensable tool for exploring cellular function, tissue organization and molecular mechanisms in health and disease.
Advancing IHC Solutions
For over 45 years, Vector Laboratories has been at the forefront of IHC innovation, revolutionizing the field with the commercialization of the VECTASTAIN® ABC detection system and the introduction of VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Medium. Since then, we have continuously advanced the accuracy, sensitivity, and reproducibility of the IHC assay-expanding our portfolio with cutting-edge products to support every step of the IHC workflow.
Why Choose Vector Laboratories for Immunohistochemistry?
At Vector Laboratories, we are committed to delivering high-quality reagents and unparalleled support to ensure the success of your IHC workflows. Here are the key features that set us apart:
Scalable, Precision-Driven Manufacturing
Our optimized and scalable manufacturing processes deliver consistent, high-performing reagents at any scale, providing a reliable foundation for reproducible and impactful results.
Robust Quality Control (QC)
Rigorous intended-use QC testing ensures batch-to-batch consistency, giving researchers confidence in every experiment and enabling accurate, reliable outcomes.
Proven Stability
Our reagents offer exceptional stability, ensuring reliable performance throughout their shelf life and minimizing experimental variability.
Quality Management System
With ISO 9001-certified processes, Vector Laboratories demonstrates a commitment to consistent quality, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.
Benchmarking Performance
Vector Laboratories’ reagents deliver industry-leading performance, setting the gold standard in IHC workflows and providing researchers with superior quality data.
Technical Support
Our expert support team is available to assist with assay optimization, troubleshooting, and technical guidance, ensuring your success at every step of the workflow.
Trusted and Cited in Publications
Our products are widely trusted and cited in high-impact scientific journals, highlighting their credibility and reliability in advancing groundbreaking research.
Vector Laboratories’ IHC Product Portfolio
Vector Laboratories is committed to providing high-quality reagents to support your success in discovering critical insights into health, disease, and therapeutic research. Our comprehensive portfolio provides end-to-end solutions designed to enable every step of the IHC workflow and empowers researchers to achieve consistent, reliable, and high-quality staining results. From routine applications to complex research projects, our products are engineered to enhance sensitivity, reproducibility, and precision.
Immunohistochemistry Workflow
Slide
Preparation
Antigen
Unmasking
Blocking
Primary
Antibody
Substrate &
Counterstain
Detection
Mounting
Sections should be mounted on charged slides to maximize tissue section retention and adherence on glass slides. Demarcate and isolate individual sections to reduce reagent use or for discrete treatment.
Related Products
Heat-induced epitope retrieval (HIER) using buffers like citrate, Tris, or EDTA is often required to unmask antigens that may be cross-linked during fixation, enhancing antibody accessibility.
Related Products
Blocking reagents, such as normal serum or animal-free solutions, minimize non-specific staining. Blocking endogenous enzymes (e.g., peroxidase) or biotin may also be necessary, depending on the detection method.
Related Products
A specific antibody that binds directly to the target antigen in the tissue, enabling precise identification and localization.
Related Products
Secondary antibodies and other detection reagents deposit enzymes (e.g., horseradish peroxidase or alkaline phosphatase) at the antigen site amplifying the signal and enabling precise visualization of the antigen-antibody complex.
Related Products
Chromogenic substrates (e.g., DAB) react with the deposited enzymes to produce a colored precipitate marking the antigen for easy microscopic observation. Counterstains provide contrast and tissue context, highlighting structures like nuclei to complement the specific staining.
Related Products
Mounting media secure the stained sections for analysis and are selected to be compatible with the detection and counterstaining methods used.
Related Products
Supporting Advanced IHC Workflows
Some immunohistochemistry (IHC) workflows can present unique challenges, such as working with primary antibody species that are closely related to tissue species or detecting multiple biomarkers within a single sample. Successfully overcoming these challenges requires specialized approaches, optimized protocols, and high-quality reagents. Vector Laboratories offers innovative solutions to help researchers navigate these complexities and achieve reliable, high-quality results in even the most demanding workflows. 
Species-on-Species Detection
Applying mouse primary antibodies to mouse tissues or humanized primary antibodies to human tissue can result in high background staining due to the secondary antibody binding to endogenous immunoglobulins. Vector Laboratories offers high-performance, proprietary solutions for these workflows.
Multiplexing Technique for IHC
Multiplex immunohistochemistry enables the simultaneous detection of multiple biomarkers within a single tissue section, offering valuable insights into complex cellular environments. This approach is especially useful when sample availability is limited or detailed phenotypic characterization is required. Vector Laboratories has developed a novel technology, VectaPlexâ„¢ Antibody Removal Kit, that allow users to remove antibodies and other non-covalently linked detection reagents from their specimen. This has streamlined the assay optimization requirements and simplified the workflow overall.
Featured Product Categories
We have developed products in the following categories to provide a comprehensive solution for IHC workflows. These highly cited and validated reagents streamline antigen unmasking, block unwanted background interference, deliver crisp staining of target antibodies, and preserve histochemical stains for extended periods. Additionally, we provide advanced solutions for challenging projects such as species-on-species detection and multiplexing.
Primary Antibodies for IHC
Successful immunohistochemistry outcomes are dependent on the specificity and sensitivity of the primary antibody, and not all antibodies are equal to the task. Many antibodies that perform well in other assays do not work well in IHC and can have undesirable effects, including producing weak or no signal, showing nonspecific background staining that interferes with analysis, or even causing false positive signals.
Vector Laboratories provides a portfolio of validated and highly cited primary antibodies for use in immunohistochemistry.
Recombinant Antibodies
Recombinant antibodies are manufactured in vitro by Absolute Antibody using synthetic genes with 100% biological definition to ensure the highest reproducibility and purity. Recombinant technology enables the engineering of antibodies into new species, isotypes, and formats to suit application requirements. Recombinant monoclonal antibodies can serve as highly specific primaries for immunohistochemistry and can be customized for effective multiplexing.
Recombinant antibody technology ensures:
- Reproducibility
- Biological definition
- High purity reagents
- Multiplexing capabilities
Selecting Reliable Detection Reagents
Selecting the right detection reagents for your target of interest can be challenging, which is why Vector Laboratories offers a wide range of options to support the diverse needs of our customers. Each reagent is designed to deliver exceptional sensitivity, low background, and reliable results.
Immunohistochemistry Research Areas
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a powerful technique used to visualize the localization, distribution, and abundance of biomolecules within preserved tissue samples and is instrumental in the study of cancer, infectious disease, neuroscience, and more. By providing a portfolio of end-to-end solutions for IHC, we empower research across diverse disciplines.
Oncology
From identifying and classifying cancer subtypes to studying pathogenesis, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis, IHC is an invaluable tool for cancer research.
Learn More →Neuroscience
IHC permits visualization of neural tissue abnormalities, including amyloid plaques, tumors, and prions.
Cell Biology
Track cell structure, organelle distribution, and protein localization to uncover cellular mechanisms.
Drug Discovery & Development
Examine tissue-level protein expression to assess therapeutic efficacy and potential side effects.
Immunology
Visualize immune cells and inflammation markers to support autoimmune and immunopathology research.
Infectious Disease
Diagnose infectious diseases and study pathogen–host interactions within tissue samples.
Learn More →Developmental Biology
Analyze protein localization during different developmental stages to understand differentiation.
Technical and Educational Resources for Immunohistochemistry
Immunohistochemistry Resource Guide
Streamline the immunohistochemistry workflow with this step-by-step guide for selecting the best reagents for your project.
IHC Multiplexing Resource Guide
Discover the steps and considerations needed for creating stunning multicolor IHC images.
Enzyme Substrates Product Information
Utilize this comprehensive product information page to select the most optimal reagents for achieving reliable staining results.
