L-Series Membrane Array Dialysis Tubes/ Floating Rack for Serum, Plasma and Lysates

Product Description
BSA blocking buffer in TBS (1X) is 3% bovine serum albumin (BSA), fraction V, immunology grade, in 1X tris buffered saline (TBS, pH: 7.4) with 0.02% sodium azide. Buffer is used for blocking steps in Western Blot, ELISA, IHC and nucleic acid detection methods. Blocker BSA is usually more effective than nonfat milk blocking buffers for biotin-avidin systems because it contains a single purified protein that is devoid endogenous biotin.

The purpose of the blocking step in an assay is to improve assay sensitivity by reducing background interference. Unforeseen cross-reaction of detection reagents with blocking buffers is itself a cause of high background and low signal-to-noise ratios in assay systems. Using inadequate amounts of blocker will result in excessive background. Using excessive blocker concentrations can mask antibody-antigen interactions or inhibit the marker enzyme.

References

• Alegria-Schaffer, A., et al. (2009). Performing and optimizing Western blots with an emphasis on chemiluminescent detection. Methods Enzymol. 463: 573-99.