Immunofluorescence

Empowering discovery with functionalized tools for fluorescence-based detection

What is Immunofluorescence (IF)?

Immunofluorescence (IF) is a powerful and versatile technique in biological research that enables scientists to visualize proteins and other antigens within cells and tissues. By combining the specificity of antibodies with the properties of fluorescent dyes, IF allows for the precise localization of target antigens making it an essential tool for studying biomarkers, protein expression, cellular architecture, disease mechanisms, and other biological processes.

Immunofluorescence is an indispensable technique for multiplexing, enabling the simultaneous detection of multiple targets within a single sample while preserving spatial context. It is widely used in cancer research, neuroscience, immunology, and infectious disease studies to examine cellular interactions and tissue organization, identify pathological changes and track disease progression, and analyze signaling pathways. Unlike immunohistochemistry (IHC), IF allows for the detection of multiple antigens within the same cell and even within specific cellular compartments, providing more precise insights into colocalization and molecular interactions. By offering high-resolution spatial and molecular data, IF supports a deeper understanding of complex biological systems in health and disease.

Vector Laboratories’
Immunofluorescence Reagents

Vector Laboratories provides comprehensive, end-to-end solutions to optimize every step of the immunofluorescence process. Our portfolio supports each stage of the IF workflow, from sample preparation to imaging, ensuring high-quality, reproducible results in drug discovery, translational medicine, and biomarker validation.

Why Choose Vector Laboratories for Immunofluorescence?

At Vector Laboratories, we are committed to delivering high-quality reagents and unparalleled support to ensure the success of your IF workflows. Here are the key features that set us apart:

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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.

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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

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Proven
Stability

Our reagents offer exceptional stability, ensuring reliable performance throughout their shelf life and minimizing experimental variability.

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Quality
Management System

Rigorous intended-use QC testing ensures batch-to-batch consistency, giving researchers confidence in every experiment and enabling accurate, reliable outcomes.

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Benchmarking Performance

Vector Laboratories’ reagents deliver industry-leading performance, setting the gold standard in IF workflows and providing researchers with superior quality data.

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Dedicated
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.

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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.

Featured Product Categories

We develop products within the following product categories to enable researchers to provide comprehensive, end-to-end solutions to optimize every step of the immunofluorescence (IF) process. With reagents that streamline antigen retrieval, block unwanted fluorescence, enhance target detection, and provide antifade mounting of your precious tissues, our catalog supports the IF workflow from start to finish. Additionally, we provide functionalized solutions for challenges like species-on-species detection and multiplexing so researchers can achieve exceptional sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility in even the most advanced IF applications.
Antigen Retrieval
Blocking Reagents
Primary Antibodies
Mounting Media
Secondary Antibodies
Multiplexing Solutions
Species-On-Species Detection

Primary Antibodies

Successful immunofluorescence outcomes are highly dependent on the specificity and sensitivity of the primary antibody, and not all antibodies are equal to the task. The best antibodies for IF must be able to perform in IHC applications and demonstrate a strong signal with minimal background noise in a variety of tissue types.

Vector Laboratories provides a prolific product portfolio of validated and highly cited primary antibodies for use in immunofluorescence, including IHC-Plus™ and PathPlus™ antibodies from our LSBio brand that are validated in 20+ tissue types for optimal performance, high affinity goat polyclonal antibodies from our Everest Biotech brand,and recombinant engineered antibodies from our Absolute Antibody brand.

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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 immunofluorescence and can be customized for effective multiplexing.

Recombinant antibody technology ensures:

  • Reproducibility
  • Biological definition
  • High purity reagents
  • Multiplexing capabilities

Solutions for Advanced IF Workflows

Immunofluorescence workflows can be complex and technically demanding requiring specialized approaches to reduce autofluorescence background, eliminate interference from endogenous immunoglobulins, and enable high-resolution multiplexing. Vector Laboratories offers industry-leading solutions to overcome common IF challenges such as autofluorescence, low signal-to-noise, and complex multiplexing workflows to empower researchers to successfully execute their advanced IF experiments and achieve optimal results.

Mouse-on-Mouse Detection

Vector’s Mouse on Mouse (M.O.M.®) Kits are specifically designed for detecting and visualizing unconjugated mouse primary antibodies in mouse tissue specimens. These kits contain a proprietary reagent that blocks endogenous mouse Ig in specimens therefore preventing non-specific binding of subsequent anti-mouse IgG detection reagents. Explore our Fluorescein Kit (FMK-2201) and other species-on-species technologies.

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Autofluorescence

Tissue autofluorescence often occurs with aldehyde fixation or from inherent native tissue components (collagen, elastin, and red blood cells). The extent and intensity of autofluorescence background frequently makes it difficult or impossible to distinguish specific signals in immunofluorescence applications. The TrueVIEW Autofluorescence Quenching Kit provides a novel way to diminish unwanted autofluorescence from non-lipofuscin sources and dramatically improve signal-to-noise ratio.

Multiplexing Solutions

Multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) enables researchers to detect multiple biomarkers within a single tissue sample providing deeper insights into cellular signaling, immune responses, and tumor microenvironments. This technique is especially valuable in oncology, immunotherapy research, and spatial transcriptomics where understanding protein colocalization and tissue architecture is critical or when sample availability is limited. However, mIF presents challenges such as cross-reactivity, reagent compatibility, and potential tissue damage from repeated staining cycles. The VectaPlex™ Antibody Removal Kit simplifies multiplex workflows by efficiently removing antibodies and other non-covalently bound detection reagents facilitating assay design and optimization while preserving tissue antigenicity and sample integrity.

IF Research Areas

Immunofluorescence is a powerful tool that allows researchers to visualize, characterize, and quantify structures and pathways to enhance our understanding of areas like cancer, neuroscience, drug development, and more. By providing a functionalized portfolio of IF reagents and antibodies, we power research across diverse disciplines.

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Resources

Immunofluorescence Resource Guide

Streamline the immunofluorescence process with this step-by-step guide to finding the optimal reagents for your project

Immunofluorescence Mounting Guide

Improve your immunofluorescence staining with this guideto properly mounting your tissue sections.
TrueVIEW Autofluorescence Quenching
Find out more about how our TruVIEW Kits can dramatically reduce tissue autofluorescence, enhancing clarity and providing an improved signal-to-noise ratio for more reliable results.
Vector Fluorescent Dyes

Explore the broad spectral coverage, unique performance characteristics, and reliable performance of fluorophores from Vector Laboratories.