Immunohistochemistry

Immunohistochemistry is a laboratory technique that detects specific antigens in tissue sections using antibodies tagged with a visible label, so the location of a protein can be read directly under a microscope. The term also refers to the reagents and instruments that the method depends on, which is what this category covers.

It literally means detecting chemistry within tissue using the immune system's own tools, specifically antibodies that bind a target antigen. The bound antibody carries a label, usually an enzyme or fluorophore, so that the antigen's position in a tissue section becomes visible.

A primary antibody binds the target antigen in a fixed tissue section, and a secondary antibody carrying a visible label then binds the primary, producing a colour or fluorescent signal where the antigen sits. The signal is read under a microscope, showing both whether the protein is present and where it is located in the tissue.

The listings split into reagents and instruments. Reagents include immunohistochemistry reagents, monoclonal antibodies, western blot reagents and flow cytometry reagents, while the instruments are automated western blot systems and broader protein analysis instruments.

It is used for histology and tissue-based molecular diagnostics, where locating an antigen in a biopsy carries clinical weight. The related reagents in this category extend to immunoassay, protein purification, cell imaging, protein analysis and flow cytometry.

Start with the validated application and target on the datasheet, not the format or pack size, because a clone validated for formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue may not work on frozen sections and one validated in one species may fail in another. Check the clone number and stated applications before anything else, since two antibodies against the same protein can behave differently where they bind different epitopes.

For reagents the distinction has little meaning, since what matters is condition, remaining expiry and whether the cold chain held. For instruments, a refurbished unit has typically been checked and brought back to working order, while used describes its condition as sold, so confirm service history and consumable availability on the individual listing.

Prices range from EUR 43 to EUR 172.178, with an average of EUR 15.241. A single antibody vial sits near the lower end and a complete automated protein analysis platform toward the top, which is why the average sits well above the cheapest reagents.

The recurring names are ProteinSimple, Invitrogen, Cell Signaling Technology, Leica and Leica Biosystems. ProteinSimple appears on the instrument side, while Invitrogen, Cell Signaling Technology and the Leica names populate the antibody and reagent listings.

A warranty is often possible and is arranged in consultation for the specific listing. Terms are not set centrally, so check what the individual listing states.

Parts can be sourced via Questpair. For an automated system, confirm first which assay cartridges or capillaries the unit accepts and whether those remain in production, since a working instrument tied to a discontinued consumable has a short life.

Reagents have a finite shelf life governed by storage temperature and the expiry window, and an opened or mishandled vial loses titre regardless of its original quality. Instruments are capital items whose working life depends on service history and the continued availability of their consumables.

Used and refurbished units are listed at lower prices than new, so a fixed budget stretches further on this catalogue. For reagents, weigh the saving against remaining shelf life and cold-chain provenance; for instruments, weigh it against service history and consumable availability on the specific listing.

They are listed here on Questpair, offered by 14 verified suppliers and distributors across 7 countries. The 216 listings combine new, used and refurbished items in one catalogue.

Lead time and shipping depend on the individual supplier and the item, particularly for reagents that require cold-chain transport. Check the specific listing, and where supporting material is needed, specialists respond within one hour.

Calibration and maintenance follow the manufacturer's procedures for each instrument, and manuals and documentation can be requested via Questpair with specialists responding within one hour. Questpair does not carry out servicing itself, but parts can be sourced through it when a component is needed.

Reagents are the larger group, led by immunohistochemistry reagents and monoclonal antibodies, with western blot and flow cytometry reagents alongside them. Histology and diagnostics labs reach for the immunohistochemistry reagents, immunoassay and purification work for the monoclonals, proteomics labs for the western blot reagents and systems, and immunology and cell biology for the flow cytometry reagents.

A concentration of recognised antibody and instrument makers makes documentation and clone data easier to find, lots easier to compare against a published datasheet, and consumables or parts for a system more likely to stay obtainable. A familiar brand does not guarantee fitness for your protocol, but it makes validation records and compatibility simpler to confirm before you commit.

The bottom of the band is single reagents such as individual antibody vials or detection kits, while the top is complete automated western blot and protein analysis platforms. The gap is the difference between a consumable and a capital instrument, which is why the price runs from EUR 43 to EUR 172.178.