An Immunocytochemical Technique Offering Increased Sensitivity and Lowered Cost with a Streptavidin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate

Immunocytochemists seek methodologies that yield high sensitivity and excellent signal to noise ratios while remaining cost effective. We report on a three step labeled avidinbiotin (LAB) immunoperoxidase that has been used successfully in our laboratory for the past three years. The technique uses commercially available detection reagents that are purchased undiluted and used at high dilutions, resulting in a cost per slide of 3 – 5 cents. Excellent sensitivity has been achieved, which allows the dilution of primary antibody and detection system reagents (commercially available primary antibodies) to a range of 0.1–0.01 ug/ml, thereby saving on costly reagents. The method is easy to perform, accommodates busy technologists' schedules, and provides preparations with strong specific labeling and virtually no background interference. (The J Histotechnol 12:273, 1989)