Immunohistology & Histology

Our product range from Nordic BioSite, Bio SB and VitroVivo Biotech combines high-quality routine and research immunohistochemistry (IHC) reagents with a wide selection of routine and special histological stainings. In addition, specially optimized pathology antibodies will help you creating more than just satisfying results.
To keep it simple: you´ll find everything you need for your routine stains or research experiments when it comes to IHC or Histology.

Immunohistology

For pretreatment and visualization we offer biotin or polymer-based detection systems and ancillary reagents (e.g. Chromogenic substrates, Mounting Media, Epitope retrieval reagents, etc.).
For diagnostics in the routine laboratory, we offer a selected a number of markers with the characteristics that they work well for IHC and have adapted the format and size to meet the needs of most diagnostic laboratories. They have all been tested and approved for IHC on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue.

Routine & Special Histology Stains

Nordic BioSite and VitroVivo Biotech offer a wide selection of routine and special histological stainings according to the need of the study. Their routine protocols are valitated and fine tuned according to the tissue and standards of the optimal stainings. We offer a big selection of commonly used stains but also more special ones including HE (routine for paraffin soft tissues or for decalcified bone), Toluidine blue, Weigert van gieson, Reticulin staining (Silver staining), Elastica (Verhoef van gieson), Masson Goldners Trichrome (plastic sections), AB-PAS, PAS, enzyme-PAS, Iron staining, Giemsa, Oil red O, Kongo, etc. .

Mag. Simon Brandstetter
+43 664 968 29 65
s.brandstetter@thp.at

Topic related companies:

BioSite IHC Detection Systems: BioSite Histo Plus detection systems are characterised by outstanding sensitivity and are recommended for use in both automated and manual immunohistochemistry. BioSite Histo Plus reagents are mainly IVD/CE certified. You can choose between polymer systems and streptavidin-biotin systems. Both kit systems are available with alkaline phosphatase (AP) or horseradish peroxidase (HRP).

BioSite Histo Plus Polymer Detection Systems (High Sensitivity)

Our BioSite Histo Plus Polymer Kits provide high sensitivity and ready-to-use reagents. Since the enzyme is directly linked to a polymer, background staining due to endogenous biotin is avoided. Perfectly synchronized components guarantee brilliant staining results. You can choose between alkaline phosphatase or horseradish peroxidase kit systems.

BioSite Histo Plus Streptavidin-Biotin Detection Systems (High Sensitivity)

BioSite Histo Plus Streptavidin-Biotin kits with high sensitivity are available with different secondary antibodies, either broad spectrum or species specific directed against mouse or rabbit. Choose one of four different kit sizes according to your demand. 80 test kits include the chromogenic substrate. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) kit systems are available. All BioSite Histo Plus Streptavidin-Biotin kits are IVD/CE certified!

BioSite Histo Streptavidin-Biotin Detection Systems (Standard Sensitivity)

BioSite Histo Streptavidin-Biotin kits with standard sensitivity are available with broad spectrum secondary antibodies directed against mouse, rabbit, rat and guinea pig. Choose one of three different kit sizes according to your demand. The 80 tests kit size include the chromogenic substrate. Alkaline phosphatase and horseradish peroxidase kit systems are available. All BioSite Histo Streptavidin-Biotin kits are IVD/CE certified!
Multiple Staining: Detection of two or more antigens on one section saves time and the tissue. Multiple IHC staining gives increasing information about different cell population and antigen relationships on the same section.

BioSiteHisto offers both common approaches of multiple staining, immunoenzyme and immunofluorescence staining. Chromogenic multi immunohistochemical staining is based on immunoenzymatic reaction with chromogen and enzyme. Great advantage of immunoenzyme staining method is that reserves the morphology of the tissue and the chromogen dye is permanent.

Typically one of the main reasons to perform the multiple staining is co-localization study. When two antigens are located in the same cell, antigens colocalize. Immunoenzyme method can be used if antigens located in same tissue section or cells, but in different cellular compartments. If the antigens are in same cellular compartment, colocalization can be tested by immunofluorescence staining using a fluorochrome labelled secondary antibodies and fuorescence microscope. Colocalization is detected by fluorochrome labelled antibodies with different excitation spectra. Colocalisation of antigens visualized when different colors overlap. Using camera and multichannel fluorescence microscopy BioSiteHisto offers sharp and high quality images for example for quantitative colocalization analysis.
Chromogenic Substrates: Compared to the immunofluorescence and biotin based immunodetections, immunoperoxidase staining is more sensitive, offers great value of tissue morphology and it is permanent. Immunoperoxidase staining with HRP (horse radish peroxidase) enzyme and DAB visualization offers great possibilities to study target antigens from tissue sections (paraffin & frozen sections) with high sensitivity and contrast.

I some special cases, when pigmentation and pigmented cells are problem and pigmentation interferes the interpretation of DAB visualized slides, alkaline phosphatase based immunostaining can offer extra value. Red chromogen (Permanent red) signal is easy to demerge from pigmented cells e.g. from skin tissue and melanoma diagnostic. Permanent red offers also great fluorescence value, and it is also possible to interpret in bright field and dark field microscope.

We offer Permanent AEC and DAB for horseradish peroxidase detection systems. For alkaline phosphatase based detection systems Permanent AP Red, Fast Red, and New Fuchsin are available. Beside the often used DAB two additional chromogenic substrates for permanent mounting are available: Permanent AEC for HRP and Permanent AP Red for AP systems. Both chromogens can be mounted with a permanent mounting medium after dehydration in ethanol and clearing in xylene.
CE/IVD Antibodies for IHC: Nordic BioSite offers a broad range of diagnostic antibodies, many of them IVD/CE certified. Usually, all their diagnostic primary
antibodies are available in concentrated and in ready-to-use format and are suitable for formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections.
Control Cell Blocks: We offer 4 different control cell blocks for immunohistochemistry and in situ-hybridisation. The control cell blocks are homogenous paraffin blocks with different numbers of embedded cell lines. These micro arrays are so small that they can be mounted together with the sample of interest e.g. patient specimen on one slide. The cell lines are fixed in buffered formalin under controlled conditions. The paraffin block can be cut as any regular paraffin block on a standard microtome without any further equipment. Red dyed paraffin was used for better orientation during cutting and mounting. Sections can be mounted on normal or coated slides following standard methods. A tissue core of dog heart muscle is included for rapid and easy orientation of the micro array on the glass slide. All control cell blocks are labelled for research use only.

The „Receptor Control Cell Block“ contains 4 types of cores: a negative control cell line, ER positive cell line, PR positive cell line and a cell line with HER2 overexpression. The cell lines will positively react to IHC staining of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and HER2 antibodies. Each block consists of a set of low and a set of normal expressing cell lines. Thus, a differentiation between high and low staining intensity is possible, indicating the sensitivity of the stains. The system is suitable for immunohistochemistry and in situ-hybridisation.

The „Virus Control Cell Block“ contains 5 cores: CMV, HSV type 1 and type 2, EBV, and Polyomavirus/ SV40 expressing cell lines. The system is suitable for immunohistochemistry and in situ-hybridisation.

The „HPV Control Cell Block“ contains 4 cores: a negative control cell line, HPV 6⁄11, HPV 16⁄18 and HPV 31⁄33⁄35 positive cell lines. The system is suitable for immunohistochemistry and in situ-hybridisation.

The „Bacteria Control Cell Block“ contains 4 cores of cells: attenuated bovine mycobacteria (serve as positive control for the detection of acid fast mycobacteria), gram positive bacteria, and gram negative bacteria (for gram or giemsa stain). Aspergillus fumigatus is the positive control for fungi-specific stains. The system is suitable for histochemical stains, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence applications.
Ancillary Products: We offer a broad range of ancillary reagents like buffers, chromogenic substrates and reagents for pre-treatment (many of them IVD/CE certified):

Antibody Diluents

Peroxide Block

Blocking Solution

Wash Buffer

Tris-Wash Buffer

Tris/HCL Buffer (pH7.6)

TRIS IHC wash buffer

PAP Pen & PAP Pen Mini

Aqueous Mounting Media

DAB Substrate Buffer

Enzyme Diluent (for Streptaridin -AP and -HRP)

Hematoxylin, Mayers (Lillie‘s modification)

Link Diluent (for secondary antibodies)

Methylgreen

Dewaxing, Epitope Retrieval & Proteolytic Treatment

Pre-treatment of tissue after paraffin embedding can be divided into different parts. One is to get rid of the paraffin hiding the epitope of interest and retrieve antigen so antibodies can detect it. We offer unique products with this focus:

The „OmniPrep Solution“ can be used for heat induced epitope retrieval (HIER). The working solution will have a pH 9 and will increase epitope expression in the tissue. Depending on the selected primary antibody, epitope unmasking can be performed with HIER with different buffer solutions, different pH or enzymatic digestion. All protocols have to be balanced between maximal specific binding of the antibody and epitope retrieval.

Each manufacturer of antibodies test their antibodies with at least one protocol and for receiving the same result this protocol must be followed. Every pathology laboratory tests a lot of antibodies to select which one deliver the correct staining pattern according to this laboratory procedure. Several laboratories have different protocols and different preferred clones that work with their specific protocol.

In general we offer the following reagents for dewaxing, epitope retrieval and proteolytic cleavage:

Deparaffinization Solution pH 6.0

Deparaffinization Solution pH 9.0

HIER Citrate Buffer pH 6.0

HIER EDTA Buffer pH 8.0

HIER T-EDTA Buffer pH 9.0

Ficin

Pepsin

Pronase

Proteinase K

Trypsin Pretreatment Kit
In Situ Hybridization: Our customized in situ hybridization method offers a valuable tool for studying molecular pathology and gene expression DNA or RNA target sequences from tissue sections. We offer in situ hybridization in two formats: Chromogenic In Situ Hybridization (CISH) and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH).

Our experience and flexibility to provide specialized and tailored IHC and ISH according to our client’s needs make us an ideal partner of your study.

Our services include:

Commercially available or custom made probes

Wide range of protocols

Optimization of hybridization conditions using various tissues or probes

CISH and FISH detections

Multi-probe detections

DNA, RNA target sequences

Comparison of the results from ISH and IHC