Vector Laboratories’ mission is to empower scientific curiosity through a culture of service, reliable products, and unmatched technical expertise, allowing scientists and organizations to move science forward with impact.
Supporting scientific industries worldwide for over 45 years, Vector Laboratories is recognized as a pioneer and market leader in immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, glycobiology, and bioconjugation products. As the first company to commercialize avidin-biotin enzyme complex kits for immunohistochemistry and antifade mounting media for immunofluorescence, Vector Laboratories has since introduced over 600 reliable reagents and kits.
Porfolio
- Mounting media (VECTASHIELD®)
- ABC Kits (VECTASTAIN®)
- Polymer Detection kits (ImmPRESS®)
- Autofluorescence Quenching Kit (TrueVIEW®)
- Antibody Removal Kit (VectaPlex™)
- Click Chemistry Tools (Click-&-Go®)
- BioDesign & Linkers for Antibody Drug Conjugates (dPEG®)
- Histology reagents
- Antibodies
- Avidin and biotinylated reagents
- Blocking reagents
- Bioconjugation products
- Enzyme substrates
- Lectins and glycobiology reagents
VectaPlex® Antibody Removal kit
VectaPlex Antibody Removal kit is a ready-to-use kit designed to remove antibodies and other non-covalently bound detection reagents from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections in immunofluorescence or tyramide signal amplification staining workflows.
VECTASHIELD® Antifade Mounting Media
Maximum retention of signal intensity is essential for clear visualization in immunofluorescence imaging. VECTASHIELD Antifade Mounting Media protect fluorophores, dyes, and fluorescent proteins from photobleaching and fading caused by excitation light, handling, and storage. Available in setting and non-setting formulations, with or without counterstains, VECTASHIELD ensures reliable, long-lasting fluorescence for cell and tissue specimen imaging.
VECTASTAIN® ABC Kits (HRP)
- High sensitivity with low background — due to the form and number of active enzyme molecules associated with the avidin/biotinylated enzyme complex
- Versatility — detect any molecule that is biotinylated in a wide variety of applications and used in a number of tissue types and species
- Modularity — configure for compatibility with a large number of different primary antibodies and target species, and choose among a selection of detection enzymes
- Convenience and economy — use the avidin-biotin enzyme complexes for several days after preparation
High-sensitivity avidin-biotin kits with horseradish peroxidase-based detection
Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) substrates produce sharp, dense precipitates with crisp localization. In conjunction with the high sensitivity and low background of VECTASTAIN ABC systems, HRP-based detection systems are a preferred choice for many applications, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunocytochemistry (ICC), protein and nucleic acid blot, in situ hybridization (ISH), and enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) detection.
In addition to their inclusion of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme detection system and use of avidin / biotin technology, these low-cost kits are highly sensitive with low background signal. They can also be used as a second label in multiple antigen labeling applications. Choose from among three different kit formats:
- VECTASTAIN ELITE® ABC Kits — our most sensitive formulations, these kits offer a smaller and more uniform avidin-biotin complex for greater accessibility to biotinylated targets within tissue samples and are available in concentrated formats or as prediluted, ready-to-use (R.T.U.) formulations
- VECTASTAIN Original ABC Kits — our original and most economical formulation, these kits offers good sensitivity with low background
- VECTASTAIN Universal Quick Kits — our most rapid protocol, these kits offer a proprietary peroxidase-streptavidin pre-formed complex for outstanding sensitivity with short incubation times. These kits can be used to quickly detect primary antibodies made in mouse, rabbit, or goat, and are available in concentrated formats or in prediluted, ready-to-use (R.T.U.) formulations
VECTASTAIN ABC systems are widely popular and are a staple product for immunodetection. They are available with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP) enzyme detection.
- The HRP kits produce sharp, dense precipitates with crisp localization and are a preferred choice for many applications
- The AP kits are ideal when working with tissues with high endogenous peroxidase activity
Both systems are available without (standard kit) or with biotinylated secondary antibodies.
ImmPRESS® Polymer Reagents for IHC
Integrated antibody and enzyme technology for high-sensitivity IHC detection
Polymer-based reagents are a more recent introduction into IHC detection methodology than traditional avidin and biotin conjugates, such as ABC kit formats. Polymers offer distinct advantages over these traditional methods particularly for applications such as multiple antigen labeling (multiplexing) on the same tissue section, or in instances where detectable levels of endogenous biotin may be problematic.
Polymer-based systems essentially consist of an integrated polymer of active enzyme and secondary antibody that binds to a primary antibody target. This integrated format introduces significantly more enzyme at the site of localization, thereby generating a greater reaction with the subsequent chromogen, as compared to the use of a secondary antibody directly conjugated with enzyme. Additionally, use of a one-step polymer method shortens the IHC procedure by avoiding the two-step biotinylated secondary antibody and ABC reagent step that is required for standard avidin-biotin systems.
ImmPRESS Polymer Detection Kits require little optimization and facilitate quick, efficient detection in cell- and tissue-based applications.
One-Step Detection
Species-specific polymer detection kits.
These kits enable selection for:
- Single antigen staining
- Sequential double staining
- Reducing/eliminating cross-reactivity issues
Two-Step Amplified Detection
Horseradish Peroxidase (HRP) polymer reagent plus anti-mouse or anti-rabbit amplifier antibody for increased sensitivity.
These kits enable selection for:
- Unknown or low antigen expression
- Maximizing primary antibody dilution
- Convenience of complete kit format
Double Staining
HRP- and AP- anti-mouse and anti-rabbit polymer reagent cocktail for staining two antigens in a single step.
These kits enable selection for:
- Double antigen staining
- Streamlining and shortening a double labeling protocol
Vector TrueVIEW - Autofluorescence Quenching Kit
The TrueVIEW Autofluorescence Quenching Kit (also available with DAPI) provides a novel way to diminish unwanted autofluorescence from non-lipofuscin sources and dramatically improve signal-to-noise ratio. It removes unwanted autofluorescence in tissue sections due to aldehyde fixation, red blood cells, and structural elements such as collagen and elastin. The quenching action of the kit reagents provides a clear, unambiguous, “true view” localization of the target antigen.
Features:
- Effective on problematic tissues such as kidney and spleen
- Easy-to-use, one-step method
- Compatible with a wide selection of fluorophores
- Compatible with standard epifluorescence and confocal laser microscopes
- Availability with DAPI counterstain and without (Mounting medium contains DAPI for counterstaining in one step)
One kit is sufficient to treat approximately 100 to 150 tissue sections.
Click-&-Go® Click Chemistry Tools (CCT)
Click chemistry is a powerful class of chemical reactions that enable scientists to efficiently and specifically "click" two molecules together under simple and biocompatible conditions. These reactions are widely used in drug development, biological research, materials science, and environmental sensing due to their many advantages:
- High specificity – Even in complex biological environments, click chemistry ensures precise molecular interactions.
- Fast and efficient reactions – Reactions occur rapidly, reducing processing time.
- High yield and purity – Minimal by-products make purification straightforward.
- Mild and biocompatible conditions – Suitable for use in living systems and synthetic environments.
- Modular and scalable – Components can be easily adapted to different applications.
Choosing a Click Chemistry Solution
Feature | Copper-Catalyzed Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (CuAAC) | Strain-Promoted Azide-Alkyne Cycloaddition (SPAAC) | Tetrazine-TCO Ligation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reaction Partners | Azide and terminal alkyne | Azide and DBCO (cyclooctyne) | Tetrazine and trans-cyclooctene (TCO) |
| Reaction Kinetics | Fast | Moderate | Extremely fast |
| Catalyst Requirement | Requires a copper catalyst (Cu(I)). Accelerating copper-chelating ligands improve efficiency & cytotoxicity | No catalyst required (copper-free) | No catalyst required (copper-free) |
| Biocompatibility | Limited | Highly biocompatible, ideal for in vivo applications | Highly biocompatible, ideal for in vivo applications |
| Cytotoxicity | Can be cytotoxic due to copper | Non-toxic (no copper catalyst) | Non-toxic (no copper catalyst) |
| Reaction Yield | High yield and efficiency in vitro | High yields but slower to reach completion than Tetrazine-TCO | High yields, very efficient |
| Reactant Concentrations | Typically requires micromolar Concentrations of both azide and alkyne, along with a copper catalyst, to achieve efficient yields. | Can function at micromolar to millimolar Concentrations, but lower Concentrations slow the reaction rate. | Highly efficient at nanomolar to micromolar Concentrations of both tetrazine and TCO. |
| Key Advantage | Well-established, efficient, and high-yielding in vitro | Copper-free, bioorthogonal and suitable with mild biological conditions | Fastest click reaction, bioorthogonal, ideal for applications requiring rapid kinetics |
| More about CuAAC | More about SPAAC | More about TCO/Tetrazine |
Vector Laboratories offers a comprehensive range of hydrophilic click-chemistry reagents, including azide, alkyne, TCO, and DBCO functionalities. These reagents enable seamless integration into biomolecules and small molecules, ensuring reliable, reproducible results while streamlining research workflows.
Vector labs’ Click-&-Go® kits provide complete, ready-to-use solutions for researchers looking to simplify and accelerate their click chemistry experiments:
- Click-&-Go® Plus OPP Protein Synthesis Assay, enabling fast and sensitive detection of nascent proteins through fluorescence imaging.
- Click-&-Go® Enrichment Kits, allowing for the efficient capture of azide- or alkyne-labeled proteins using agarose resins for downstream mass spectrometry or proteomics.
- Click-&-Go® IsoTaG Kits, empowering intact glycopeptide profiling on azide- or alkyne-modified glycopeptides
- Click-&-Go® Fluorescent Imaging Kits, labeling alkyne-labeled molecules with fluorescent dyes.
- Click-&-Go® Reaction Buffer Kits, performing click chemistry reactions in cell-based or biochemical assays.
View full CCT range in shop Learn more on Vector Labs' website
Quanta BioDesign Toolbox - Bridge biology and chemistry to find your optimal Antibody Drug Conjugates
Explore the complete portfolio of Quanta BioDesign, now part of Vector Laboratories. BioDesign is Vector Labs' expert-guided, collaborative linker development process for bioconjugate therapeutic development.
View Quanta BioDesign products in shop Learn more about Quanta BioDesign on Vector Labs' website
dPEG® crosslinkers
dPEG® (discrete polyethylene glycol) is Vector Laboratories’ proprietary single molecular weight PEG technology, designed to overcome the limitations of traditional PEGs. Unlike conventional PEGs, which are heterogeneous mixtures with varying molecular weights, dPEG® products are precisely synthesized to be monodisperse, ensuring consistency and reproducibility. PEGylation—the process of covalently attaching PEG to molecules or surfaces—enhances water solubility, increases hydrodynamic volume, reduces immunogenicity, and extends circulation time in vivo. Vector’s dPEG® technology offers a wide range of functional groups and architectures, enabling applications in drug development, diagnostics, and biomolecule modification while optimizing pharmacokinetics and biodistribution.
Download overview flyers for more information
| Filename | Download |
|---|---|
| Vector Labs Click Chemistry Dyes |  |
| Vector Labs Click Chemistry Reagents Overview | |
| Vector Labs dPEG for ADC Linker Design | |
