Pepsin Antigen Retrieval Solution (Ready-to-use)

Fixation of cells or tissues with paraformaldehyde, formaldehyde, or other aldehyde-based reagents induces cross-linking between proteins, which masks antigenic sites in the sample and leads to reduced staining signals or even false-positive results in immunostaining. Antigen Retrieval Solution is used for antigen retrieval in aldehyde-fixed samples such as paraffin-embedded sections and frozen sections, effectively removing aldehyde-induced protein cross-links and fully exposing antigenic epitopes in samples like paraffin sections, thereby greatly improving immunostaining results.

Antigen retrieval is typically required for paraffin sections to enhance immunostaining results. For frozen sections, antigen retrieval is optional; however, many studies have shown that it significantly improves staining outcomes, especially when immunostaining of frozen sections is suboptimal. In principle, for any sample fixed with paraformaldehyde, formaldehyde, or other aldehyde-based reagents—whether frozen sections or cell smears—antigen retrieval effectively removes protein cross-links and fully exposes antigenic epitopes, thereby greatly improving immunostaining results.

This product employs a proteolytic antigen retrieval (PIER) method and contains pepsin and other components. It is primarily used for intercellular antigen retrieval and can be applied to paraffin sections, frozen sections, and other samples fixed with paraformaldehyde, formaldehyde, or other aldehyde-based reagents.