Secondary antibodies play a pivotal role in immunological assays, including Western Blot, Immunocytochemistry, and ELISA. They are instrumental in precisely identifying and measuring specific proteins or antigens, making them indispensable tools in modern biological research.
In Western blotting experiments, primary antibodies first recognize and bind to the target antigen, generated against specific epitopes. However, unless directly conjugated to an enzyme or fluorophore, primary antibodies lack a means of detection. This is where secondary antibodies come in.
Produced in a different species from the primary antibody, secondary antibodies are designed to bind specifically to the constant regions of primary antibodies. This feature enables a single secondary antibody to recognize and bind to multiple primary antibodies, highlighting their versatility as a common lab reagent.
In Western Blot and ELISA, secondary antibodies conjugated with horseradish peroxidase are commonly used. These conjugates facilitate the visualization of the target antigen. Horseradish peroxidase, when exposed to its substrate, generates a detectable signal, usually a color change or luminescence, enabling precise quantification of the antigen of interest. Browse our HRP-conjugated secondary antibodies below to find quality reagents and Aviva’s competitive pricing.