About Tween 20? - (Aug/08/2007 )

Sometimes Tween is added to BSA when blocking. Why so if BSA is already a blocking agent, just to enhance blocking of the unspecific binding or?

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Hi

I do immunohistochem quite often, and I usually add Tween or Triron or both.
I fogot which (tween or triron), but one of them increase penetration of antibody and other reduce the surface tension.

I hope it help.

Rnotk

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Tween is a polymer that blocks protein binding sites of protein binding matrices; Tween has no immunogenic potential; BSA is more complex and may bind Ab´s unspecifically (increase of background); Tween alone may not complete blocking procedure so that a mixture of different blocking agents is useful; skim milk f.i. is a natural mix of low-immunogenic proteins

(blocking solutions must always be tested for each Ab especially if there is no experience with the Ab)

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