[Histonet] Choosing a blocking reagent

[Gayle Callis]

Jennifer,

A blocking agent can be other than a normal serum block and commonly sold 
by the various vendors but it pays to try these out before using them all 
the time.

We use a normal serum block and always match the normal serum block to the 
HOST of the secondary.  Then I would be using Donkey in your case.  I have 
seen people use swine serum too but we just follow match to the host rule 
and very few problems with our murine work.



At 09:41 AM 3/8/2007, you wrote:
>We have been hotly debating this subject for over a week in our lab.
>
>How do you choose the blocking reagent for immunohistochemistry?
>
>If you are using a secondary made in a donkey can you just use any hoofed
>animal's serum to block??

Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology
Montana State University - Bozeman
PO Box 173610
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
406 994-6367
406 994-4303 (FAX)